tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post745152661510043684..comments2024-03-28T12:04:44.953+00:00Comments on Pegler Birding: Sprawk !!! - on 29th February, 2016Richard Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-20481786898401105862016-04-03T15:53:15.529+01:002016-04-03T15:53:15.529+01:00'Sprawk' sound like an appropriate warning...'Sprawk' sound like an appropriate warning call to the birds to my mind, Chris.<br /><br />Best wishes, and thanks for you kind words - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-15093335806237431692016-03-30T19:28:28.213+01:002016-03-30T19:28:28.213+01:00It's weird saying the word "Sprawk" ...It's weird saying the word "Sprawk" out loud. We have a similar bird called the "Cooper's Hawk" and once and awhile it visits our feeders for a bird. I'm okay with it. It's what they do. They can have a dove or a finch:) While it's like, "Noooooo! Not my feeder birds!!!!", I'm like, "Well....they've got to eat as well:)" Great photos. Even when the dove is dead, it still looks beautiful!Rohrerbothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02136631378931478644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-34957180635224082782016-03-26T16:18:42.009+00:002016-03-26T16:18:42.009+00:00Thank you for your kind words, Mr Philff!Thank you for your kind words, Mr Philff!Richard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-79860296401863037272016-03-26T16:17:40.144+00:002016-03-26T16:17:40.144+00:00Thank you, Roos. I hope that you had a wonderful t...Thank you, Roos. I hope that you had a wonderful time - IL, is that Illinois (USA) or Israel? I too have been away on the Scilly Isles, and just got back this week.<br /><br />Best wishes - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-66715334755070456782016-03-24T08:14:36.602+00:002016-03-24T08:14:36.602+00:00Magnifiques images Richard ! so much beautiful pic...Magnifiques images Richard ! so much beautiful pics ! how can do to be there just at the good place and at the good time ? I'm very impress ! Thanks !<br />PhilfffPhilfffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08245945440352072939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-31720095350441294422016-03-23T16:08:04.403+00:002016-03-23T16:08:04.403+00:00Hello Richard, wow these are amazing photos of the...Hello Richard, wow these are amazing photos of the Sprawk. Sorry I was not able to react sooner but I have been away for two weeks birding in IL.<br />Regards,<br />RoosRooshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02095611236289233818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-60993031466799415222016-03-10T20:54:19.476+00:002016-03-10T20:54:19.476+00:00Thanks, John. I reckon it's high time you set ...Thanks, John. I reckon it's high time you set out some of your garden as a nature reserve, with a hide in it. You'd soon get some close shots of all sorts, being in the area you're in! ;-}Richard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-30218914236222222922016-03-10T20:08:13.860+00:002016-03-10T20:08:13.860+00:00I'd be most upset to lose my study which overl...I'd be most upset to lose my study which overlooks the bird feeders in my garden, Diane, but I'd probably get a lot more done if I was somewhere without a view!!<br /><br />The issue of the Sprawk seems to have attracted a lot of comment - possibly more than the dog-mess issue raised in my last post.<br /><br />I'll summarise by saying that, having given consideration to all the points made, I have no wish to actively try and exclude avian predators from the garden, and would actually be upset if a Sprawk didn't visit from time to time. I will always, however, feel a little upset every time I see a bird taken - especially if it's one of our rarer visitors. Hopefully, Lindsay will learn that nature is not always pretty!<br /><br />I hope that you are keeping well. Best wishes - - Richard<br />Richard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-10182812533828155792016-03-10T19:56:14.937+00:002016-03-10T19:56:14.937+00:00Hi Richard, wonderful images of the Sprawk, good t...Hi Richard, wonderful images of the Sprawk, good to see the images of the tale you told me. ope fully will get that close to a bird myself sometime. The bird most certainly was determined to get its lunch. Regards JohnTitus John Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02257227880929684276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-22955137517979818692016-03-10T19:54:33.589+00:002016-03-10T19:54:33.589+00:00I'm not sure what you think you might have sai...I'm not sure what you think you might have said that could be considered as disrespectful, Doug. Nothing strikes me that way!<br /><br />We've got 6ft fences all round, with trellis above the fence on one side, the house on the second side, and trees and shrubs on the other two sides.<br /><br />Don't tell my wife, but I'd be quite sad if the Sprawk stopped coming. It's when it starts arriving many times each day that it gets to be a bit disturbing (there was a period recently when I was seeing it four times a day on average - which probably meant it was coming about eight times a day!)<br /><br />Incidentally, and coincidentally, I moved the feeders earlier this afternoon!!<br /><br />Best wishes - - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-40232039093344367502016-03-10T19:09:40.809+00:002016-03-10T19:09:40.809+00:00We have seen a Sprawk here a couple of times, I on...We have seen a Sprawk here a couple of times, I only once managed photos and I have not seen it kill. Our builder a couple of years back said he saw one take a blue tit while he was having lunch on the lawn, so I guess it is not going short. Since we moved the office upstairs we only have velux skylights so I miss a lot of lawn activity now :-( They need to feed in winter as well as the little guys but it still upsets me I have to say. Keep well DianeDianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14782670749466305626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-24801455761098748322016-03-10T18:23:53.894+00:002016-03-10T18:23:53.894+00:00I'm wondering perhaps you might be able to mak...I'm wondering perhaps you might be able to make life harder for the sprawk. Do you have trellis up along your fence? If not putting it up might stop it for a while as it's so used to sneaking into the garden hugging the fence line and trees for cover any change in the height might give the birds the extra few seconds they need to evade capture. Or perhaps planting bushes etc too. The only alternative might be to swap locations of your feeders every so often. <br />I didn't mean any disrespect by the way. Douglas Mcfarlanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12267360351215643395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-71755429523750105262016-03-10T16:11:52.740+00:002016-03-10T16:11:52.740+00:00In retrospect that's a valid point, David, but...In retrospect that's a valid point, David, but (as I clearly state in this post) when I first frightened off the Sprawk I believed the Dove to be already dead. The second time I frightened off the Sprawk, it hadn't seen the Dove and I believed that the Dove had a chance of recovery. I was trying to save it from going through the ordeal twice.Richard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-28839609921298135102016-03-10T15:37:26.782+00:002016-03-10T15:37:26.782+00:00Hi again Richard: I understand that you have to ta...Hi again Richard: I understand that you have to take Lindsay's views into account! However, I think the greater sin, if the Sparrowhawk does take another bird, is to scare the raptor off its prey before the prey has succumbed. The poor Collared Dove in your account above had to go through the ordeal twice.David M. Gascoigne,https://www.blogger.com/profile/17229638811027153569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-88265605220591730762016-03-09T20:07:42.509+00:002016-03-09T20:07:42.509+00:00It's my other half who is demanding that we tr...It's my other half who is demanding that we try and dissuade the Sprawk from visiting, Doug, and as were having some interesting visitors (Redpoll, Siskin, Bullfinch, and L-t Tits were around when it visited) I was reasonably happy to see it off on that occasion. I'm trying to win Lindsay round to letting the Sprawks have their way, but she keeps throwing the suggestion at me that we stop feeding the birds as we're just attracting them so that they can fall victime to the Sprawks. I'm treading carefully here!<br /><br />Best wishes - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-17131889292346017532016-03-09T19:59:58.565+00:002016-03-09T19:59:58.565+00:00Thanks, David. I would be quite happy to leave the...Thanks, David. I would be quite happy to leave the Sprawk to its devices (we can afford to lose a few Collared Doves - in fact I would gain, financially, if we lost a few Collared Doves!!!!), but for two things:- 1) We're having some rather interesting avian visitors at the moment, and I'd be disappointed to lose one of them to this bird, and 2) Lindsay is very insistent that we try and dissuade the Sprawk from visiting. Today Lindsay was out when the Sprawk visited - I just took photos! (I hope she doesn't read this!) <br /><br />Best wishes to you and Miriam - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-59363181959580656732016-03-09T18:35:42.291+00:002016-03-09T18:35:42.291+00:00Perhaps I'm heartless but I would've let t...Perhaps I'm heartless but I would've let the sprawk take it's reward their strike/success rate is very low and the female especially will need to fatten up ready for long periods on a nest, which must be close to your home, still you gave the Dove a fighting chance. <br />The Redpoll is delightful Douglas Mcfarlanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12267360351215643395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-56675991802655177182016-03-09T15:14:36.585+00:002016-03-09T15:14:36.585+00:00It's a fine series of pictures, Richard, and I...It's a fine series of pictures, Richard, and I would stifle any feelings of guilt or regret. I think Noushka's comment above is valid. You probably do more overall good than harm by feeding, and certainly this magnificent Sparrowhawk in entitled to its survival too.David M. Gascoigne,https://www.blogger.com/profile/17229638811027153569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-82185765736618842722016-03-09T11:08:13.182+00:002016-03-09T11:08:13.182+00:00I agree with your sentiments, Noushka, but I have ...I agree with your sentiments, Noushka, but I have to be sensitive to Lindsay's wishes too!<br /><br />This was the first time that I've photographed a female Sprawk at a sensible range and it's really made me appreciate just how large she is when compared to the male - she's just been back in the rain, so I could only get photos of her in dull light through the rain-spattered glass - I'm talking about the Sprawk here, not Lindsay!!!!<br /><br />My very best wishes - - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-54280532976461335662016-03-09T10:15:01.386+00:002016-03-09T10:15:01.386+00:00WOW, that is quite a story here Richard!
I never s...WOW, that is quite a story here Richard!<br />I never saw a female at my feeder since I only small passerine birds and no larger birds such a dove or a thrush.<br />I choose to let things happen since feeding the passerine birds helps them enormously get through winter so if a hawk levy one once in while, I guess that species too is entitled to get a helping hand.<br />After all, we do live in world where predators have to eat prey to survive, it's a pity but that is this planet's way.<br />Congratulations for those great photos, it shows how much bigger a female is compared to a male.<br />I wish you as great pictures for the Stonechats!!<br />Warms hugs to share with Lindsay :)Noushkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11583459949373167021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-41408026335493139002016-03-09T09:42:53.145+00:002016-03-09T09:42:53.145+00:00Hello 'S S'. I fully agree that what I'...Hello 'S S'. I fully agree that what I'm observing is a positive indicator for the health of the natural world. I'm conscious, however, that I'm already upsetting a natural balance by feeding the birds and attracting them to our garden. I also appreciate that this will attract predators too. I'm happy to live with that, but my wife is starting to demand otherwise!!<br /><br />Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed comment. Best wishes - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-2964802531359323692016-03-09T09:33:50.608+00:002016-03-09T09:33:50.608+00:00Thank you for your kind words, Fin. Yes, I did see...Thank you for your kind words, Fin. Yes, I did see your excellent post on the Gourmet Sprawk, thank you.<br /><br />Best wishes to you, Harley, and your mum and dad - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-53304158872672628852016-03-09T09:32:01.411+00:002016-03-09T09:32:01.411+00:00Thank you, Mark. Thank you, Mark. Richard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-32173291382364889332016-03-09T09:31:32.761+00:002016-03-09T09:31:32.761+00:00I agree that nature has to take its course, Paul. ...I agree that nature has to take its course, Paul. Mrs P. is not so happy about the Sprawk's visits, however. I do take the attitude that if I'm increasing the occurrence of bird visits to my garden by feeding the birds, I'm going to increase the occurrence of predator visits too. Sprawks I can tolerate. Cats are another matter - even if this is at odds with my comment to John, above!<br /><br />Thank you for your very kind words about the images - much appreciated. <br /><br />Best wishes - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2300766267906463889.post-78522815001743868212016-03-09T09:24:12.331+00:002016-03-09T09:24:12.331+00:00They certainly are magnificent creatures, Adrian. ...They certainly are magnificent creatures, Adrian. Best wishes - - - RichardRichard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.com