As I’ve probably said before, we back onto a small woodland. This year we seem to have been lucky enough to have a family of Sparrowhawks take up residence.
My guess is that the young have relatively recently fledged and they are swooping around, screaming to each other. I don’t have the equipment (or patience) of a wildlife photographer so this is the best I have been able to catch on my cameraphone. You’ll probably have to turn the volume up quite a lot to hear them and they are rather indistinct. However, they’re there and good to see/hear.
We have had sparrowhawks around before but this is the first time (that I remember) that they’ve been quite so noticeable.
Obviously, they’ve scared away some of the little birds, I haven’t seen them take any this year (although I do remember one having a bluetit in the past) but they have been pestering the crows and magpies – obviously practicing for more agile small birds in the future.