Sparrow hawk

[raysparx]

I feel so lucky,I have been sitting in the garden earlier watching a sparrow hawk,swooping down what a sight,have you any birds of prey near you? we have the above plus barn owls,buzzards and all sorts of other wildlife including Badgers.

[electricblue]

Yep ray,norwich it is,and it aint bootiful!!!

[raysparx]

never mind electric,win that lottery and live your dream, I have left a message on cowboy question, goodnight now take care, Ray xx

[lindapinda]

Hi Ray..a few years ago,I watched a sparrow hawk devouring a small bird in my neighbour's garden.It was horrible but fascinating at the same time.I'm on the outskirts of Belfast,have seen all sorts of sea birds,garden birds etc,but I always remember that sparrow hawk!.

[raysparx]

Hi linda, yes got to agree with you nature is fascinating yet violent at times,but at least in nature they only kill to survive unlike us, I have always wanted to visit Northern Ireland,friends that have been tell me how beautiful it is, and is it Strangford loch looks so glorious,I will make an effort next year,great seeing where we all live,take care Linda, Ray xx

[gessoo]

Hi raysparx, I am lucky enough to live almost next to a Owl and Bird of Prey reserve. Marsh Harriers are a regular site these days. The reserve has been there for some years now but this year is opening to the public for the first time. I have mixed feelings. Although I think it's great that this is happening, I shall miss the solitude.

[gessoo]

Oh, and I live in Norfolk too, North Norfolk and it is still glorious. Not far to visit electricblue!!!

[gessoo]

p.s. Am a born and bred Londoner, Ray, and would never ever go back to live - no way!!! Have now been here for 28 years.

[raysparx]

Hi gessoo, you are lucky,that must be great I can understand the mixed feelings though, what bit of London? I was born In Notting Hill,it wasn't posh then it was a dump,then lived in Bermondsey, then kent, now in the Place I love,not many people that leave London would go back,but the parks in London are some of the best in the world, good name youv'e got,does it just mean guess who? Take care, Ray

[gessoo]

I come from Wimbledon Ray. Actually it is lovely there and I spent a lot of my childhood walking on the common with my Dad, where I developed my love of nature. You are right about the lovely parks, though, and London parks have some wonderful hardwood trees, which I sadly miss now. I couldn't afford to live in Wimbledon now, even if I wanted to. It hasn't changed that much, except for the traffic!!!

North Norfolk is really lovely and has miles of protected coastline. Spent a few hours on the saltmarshes at Stiffkey the other day - blissful, not a soul in sight - just the seabirds.

Gessoo? Well you guessed correctly!

Best wishes.

[raysparx]

Hi gessoo, Wimbledon is a lovely place,I used to do a lot of work there,just behind the tennis club,there are two big blocks of flats overlooking the courts, I used to do the lighting maintainance on them and used to time it for when the tennis was on,great view from the roof, as you say the common is lovely,the old windmill etc,one of my favourites is Hyde park/ken gardens, but also love Kew,hampton court,hampstead heath, just a pity about the wierdos that lurk about though, take care, Ray

[gessoo]

Used to live very near the All England Courts Ray, very near to Wimbledon Park. Yes it is lovely. Went back last autumn to revisit all the places of my youth. Have you ever been into Canazaro Park - wonderful place!

[gessoo]

,,,,,,,,,,,,, and we had lunch at the Old Windmill!

[raysparx]

Hi gessoo, I have never even heard of Canazaro park,where is it? must have been chaotic when tennis was on for you,I love the old windmill, a real bygone age.. Ray

[electricblue]

Hi gessoo,i agree further onto the coast if great but i'm in middle of concrete jungle,maybe i'll just pitch up tent somewhere,,,,,,,quieter!!!!

[whiffey]

This has made great reading. I am near Croydon, so I get the usual suburban wildlife. My robin is a joy. I feed him strawberry-flavoured pellets from a tray outside the conservatory door. If I'm late, he will come and sit on the windowsill and look in, head on one side, to remind me !

I'm very near to Croydon Cemetery, so I occasionally get green and lesser spotted woodpeckers at my hanging nut feeder.

How lucky you people in the countryside are ! I'd love to get back to where I came from. Just 35 miles from London I know a disused lane where it is possible to walk for hours without seeing another person or hearing any traffic. Just fields, woods, wildlife.

(Wimbledon - best restaurant in the world, The Ahmed)

[gessoo]

Canizaro park is at the side of Wimbledon Common, Ray. Canizaro house and park obviously used to be the home of someone famous. It was a home for old people when I was young and is now a hotel. The park is open to the public and is just wonderful.

http://www.markbutler.co.uk/images/factsheets/canizaro.jpg

found this

Cannizaro House was built in the early eighteenth century as a gracious private residence and, over the years, has been home to a number of distinguished figures, including Viscount Melville, the Duke of Cannizaro and the last Maharajah of Punjab. The beautiful landscaped grounds hold many delightful surprises including a Gothic aviary, ornamental lake and open air theatre and the south terrace offers breathtaking views over acres of sweeping lawns.

[gessoo]

Would help if I spelt it properly. 'Cannizaro'. Have now googled it and see they have music festivals there these days.

I really like Norwich Electricblue. Are you a Bowie fan by any chance?

[electricblue]

No,No,No,No,didn't realise,just my fave colour!!!!

[gessoo]

He he. I actually like Bowie!!

Ray you have got quite a chatty thread going here!

See you later. Must do some work.

[raysparx]

Thanks gessoo,I am going there next time I am down sout,hi whiffey, Is croydon really built up now? used to be an air strip there,long time ago,spose it's gone now,you say get back to where you come from,where is that? hi electric,can't leave my little squaw out in the cold,how are you? the daft thing is whiffey the amount of wildlife even in the centre of London, the birds,squirrels,foxes amazing isn't it, I have just had a call so I have an urgent job to do,thank you all, you are lovely people, take care, Ray xx