Lord Knows Why Me

[ttfn]

I have spent the festive holiday at Big Sis' in the countryside. Part of my daily duties was to feed the wild birds. On Christmas Day morning I checked all the feeding stations were topped up and decided to put some food on the front lawn for the ground-feeding birds. I mixed up some general seed with a generous helping of pumpkin seeds.

I broadcast one big handful on the lawn. As I prepared for the second great scattering I was amazed to be hit on my extended arm by a sparrowhawk going at some speed. It had swooped over the hedge and I can only assume it was attracted by my movement. I stood there with my mouth open and watched the bird fall nearly to the ground, then climb high over the gate and make off down the side of the house banking considerably as it disappeared.

As Big Sis said afterwards, 'No harm done, the sparrowhawk managed to fly away'.

Thudddddd

[gness]

Phew...thank goodness you didn't hurt the bird, ttfn. x

[ladybirder]

WOW! How lucky are you:-) You gotta larf.

[ttfn]

We had watched the same bird the day before, gness. It had attempted a strike on one of the bird globes but missed its dinner. On Boxing Day I made sure I was wearing my glasses (to protect my eyes) before I ventured out in the garden and I faced the direction from which the sparrowhawk comes ;)

[gness]

Must admit, ttfn, at the speed they attack you could be damaged.

[Zacs-Master]

Possibly desperate for food due to its normal prey being drowned in their burrows.

[ttfn]

ladybirder, it happened so quickly I didn't have time to flinch or anything. I still had the bird seed clenched tightly in my hand - how cool am I? :)

gness I am tough as old boots LOL

[sunny-dave]

It will have been after your milk stout - just make sure you cover it with a hairnet at all times ...

[ladybirder]

Sparrowhawks hunt small birds Zacs, that is their usual prey.

You are defo uber cool ttfn:-) Respect!

[Ann]

A few Summers ago I was on the phone in the garden when a sparrowhawk swooped across the garden nearly crashing into the window of our summerhouse, obviously mistaking his own reflection for another bird. It turned round and flew straight at me briefly catching its talons in my hair. I dropped the phone and just screamed which panicked it and it flew over the roof but was a nightmare experience I can tell you!

[Psybbo]

You registered on its radar

[ttfn]

What, like Moony has?

[ladybirder]

Many years ago I was walking my dog in the local park when a sparrowhawk snatched a small bird right above my head. Without thinking I swung the dog's lead at it, missed, but it dropped the bird which flew away. I'm not sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

[starone]

Ladybirder - you deprived that poor sparrowhawk of its hard-earned dinner! 'Nature, red in tooth and claw'.

ttfn, As no-one else has bothered, I will - Never mind the b bird - did it hurt your arm and if so how is it now?

[jno]

are you particularly sparrow-like in appearance, ttfn?

[ttfn]

Thank you, Star !

I have a wee scratch on my arm but I was fine. It was very mild on 25th and I was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt so I reckon I was lucky :)

[Zacs-Master]

Of course, the clues in the name. Doh!

[wolf63]

It is amazing how powerful a bird can be. It must have been a magical meeting - no blood spilled.


Frankie is the only ornithologist in our family. But now that he is getting older he doesn't get overly excited trying to catch the birdies.

[ttfn]

Unlike Moony, wolf ;)

[cupid04]

I bet you was in raptors [raptures!

[cupid04]

I feel like the youngest kid in 'The sound of music', who asks why am I always last?