One less starling to feed

[Muscat]

I was weeding in the front garden yesterday when I heard a screetching noise and then had to duck as this sparrow hawk flew just over my head with a starling he had caught in my back garden, he landed in the neighbours front garden and started to eat his lunch. He sat in the garden for best part of 15 minutes before being chased off by a cat.

As he was in the shade and then hid under one of the bushes I had yo shoot at ISO2000 with my 5D3 and 70-300L @ 300.

[Stanm]

Re: One less starling to feed

You lucky guy Ian, dont even get starlings in my garden.
WEll done

Stan

[Muscat]

Re: One less starling to feed

Thanks Stan, it was a privilege to see the hawk and get so close to it whilst it sat there with its food, I grabbed some shots and then left it to eat.

[paulr5604]

Re: One less starling to feed

Cracking shots love the piercing eyes looking at you in the second picture.

[colin C]

Re: One less starling to feed

You are very fortunate and I love the menace in his eyes in the second shot.

[Chris_R]

Re: One less starling to feed

What a cracking couple of shots Ian.

[MX5]

Re: One less starling to feed

Very nice shots. We get Sparrowhawks sat on the fence eying up a Dove for tea. Sometimes find the ring of feathers on the lawn. Often also see a number of them soaring in the thermals overhead. So common here ... in fact we get an amazing collection of birds from small ones to great big sea gulls.

[Hereford_EOS]

Re: One less starling to feed

Great images ... you were indeed fortunate.

[Nathaniel]

Re: One less starling to feed

Very jealous. Lovely pics. You were very lucky.

[Nathaniel]

Re: One less starling to feed

Very nice shots. We get Sparrowhawks sat on the fence eying up a Dove for tea. Sometimes find the ring of feathers on the lawn. Often also see a number of them soaring in the thermals overhead. So common here ... in fact we get an amazing collection of birds from small ones to great big sea gulls.

Let me know when you next see them. I will come round in a flash!

[Muscat]

Re: One less starling to feed

Thanks guys, I knew there was one around but this was the first time I had actually seen it.

Nat you will need to be fast

[Nathaniel]

Re: One less starling to feed

Ian, I like these sorts of pictures where the bird is not tame, not in captivity or in a nature reserve (!!!) and one has to be very quick on the draw!.

[tesarver]

Re: One less starling to feed

2nd image for me

Tom

[Columbarius]

Re: One less starling to feed

If he (I think possibly she) hid under a bush, where were you hiding? I really like #2. There are some really talented photographers on this website, and I appreciate your sharing your work.

[Muscat]

Re: One less starling to feed

If he (I think possibly she) hid under a bush, where were you hiding? I really like #2. There are some really talented photographers on this website, and I appreciate your sharing your work.

Russell thanks for identifying the gender, I was simply standing in the road about 12-15ft away, the bird simply looked at me and carried on eating so I left him/her alone.

Thanks Tom