View single post by Eric
 Posted: Fri Apr 1st, 2022 20:42
Eric



Joined: Wed Apr 18th, 2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 4186
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Reading a magazine and sipping my coffee I was suddenly rudely interrupted with a huge bang on the patio doors. Obviously a bird strike but not the normal glancing blow. This was a full pelt collision. I saw the dove fall amongst the pots on the patio so leapt up to see if it was stunned. 

There stomping on it was a beautiful Sparrowhawk. I instinctively waved the magazine at the bird hoping to save the dove. Despite being only 3 feet away from me the hawk glowered at me indignantly and took off with the dove under slung. The hawk dropped it in the border then swooped round and through the bushes (remarkable agility) to land on the dove and continue stomping.

The dove was clearly dead as it fell like a stone from the hawk grip landing upside down. So I resolved to let nature continue and went for the camera.

Taken at an angle (to make things worse) through double glazing in poor 12,800iso light, it was never going to be really sharp. But I stupidly didn’t check the shutter speed ….1/100th for a ducking and plucking bird was a little sloooow.  

Unfortunately before I could change speed, the hawk had enough of being watched and took off with his meal into the woodland, leaving me with the feathers …….which Jan insisted I had to collect up before she was ‘going out there’.  

Nature can be brutal. 




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Last edited on Fri Apr 1st, 2022 20:42 by



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Eric