Post by rowanberry on May 1, 2021 18:50:49 GMT
Today I heard the sparrows alarm calling, and got to the window in time to see a sparrowhawk dive into the hedge.
A greater spotted woodpecker on the feeder next to the hedge had been taken off-guard, and had to stay where it was... I could see the hedge moving about and knew the sparrowhawk was still there so I went to get my camera. The poor woodpecker never moved as the minutes ticked by, and eventually the sprawk emerged without having caught anything this time... but it must have decided it needed a bit of a rest, and decided to take a breather- perched on a branch directly over the peanut feeder.
I wasn't able to get a photo of the hawk, (there were too many branches in the way) but I could see it lift its head now and again for a look around. It shifted its position slightly at one point, and so did the woodpecker by just a centimetre or so... enough to keep the lid of the feeder between it and the sprawk. A magpie noticed there was a BoP on the premises, (alerted by the sparrows kicking up a fuss) and flew down to have a word- that finally persuaded it to hunt elsewhere.
The woodpecker didn't risk moving for several more minutes until it felt the coast was clear, and then it rocket-launched itself off that feeder. I've not seen it again for the rest of the day.
Hidden Woodpecker May 2021 by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr
A greater spotted woodpecker on the feeder next to the hedge had been taken off-guard, and had to stay where it was... I could see the hedge moving about and knew the sparrowhawk was still there so I went to get my camera. The poor woodpecker never moved as the minutes ticked by, and eventually the sprawk emerged without having caught anything this time... but it must have decided it needed a bit of a rest, and decided to take a breather- perched on a branch directly over the peanut feeder.
I wasn't able to get a photo of the hawk, (there were too many branches in the way) but I could see it lift its head now and again for a look around. It shifted its position slightly at one point, and so did the woodpecker by just a centimetre or so... enough to keep the lid of the feeder between it and the sprawk. A magpie noticed there was a BoP on the premises, (alerted by the sparrows kicking up a fuss) and flew down to have a word- that finally persuaded it to hunt elsewhere.
The woodpecker didn't risk moving for several more minutes until it felt the coast was clear, and then it rocket-launched itself off that feeder. I've not seen it again for the rest of the day.
Hidden Woodpecker May 2021 by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr
