I have lived at the current house in Leighton Buzzard since 2002 some 18 years now and over the years have watched and photographed the birds that visit the garden with a garden list and flyover tally now somewhere in the region of 75 which is reasonable for a small suburban garden. Over the years I have lost count of how many times I have come home from work to find Sparrowhawk sign in the garden usually a Collard Dove or Blakbird, and frustratingly have seen on numerous occasions both Male & Female birds fly through, over, in & out of the garden, but never have I witnessed an actual catch in real time.
This Tuesday gone my luck finally changed and this large female I think took out a starling in the garden and stayed just long enough for me to firstly find and get the camera, gently open the window and fire off a few quick piccies.
It was an amazing to be able to capture a few seconds of raw nature in action with the daily thrust of life, death and survival in full view right in you back garden. You do feel sorry at the time for the victim in this instance a young starling but thats how it works.
he catch, cowl and consumption
