Christian and Beccy

iTrader: (14)

.....with our French doors open, we were watching the birds in our garden and there was one male blackbird happily hopping around in the garden catching worms, with which to feed his babies and suddenly there was the almighty screech/squawk and some kind of Hawk had swooped down out of the sky and caught/killed the blackbird, before flying off with it in its mouth.

All about 5 feet from where we were sitting!

Very sad, poor little thing, but I didn't think Birds-of-prey were interested in birds. I thought they were into Mice/Voles/Rabbits etc?

Bullett

iTrader: (2)

probaly a sparrowhawk mate.they prey on the birds in my garden.do you live near woods? lightish underside and mottled brown top?

Redeye Jedi

Was gonna say Sparrow Hawk would love a bit of black bird!! Ive seen them around here aswell so quite likely to be one of them!

Christian and Beccy

iTrader: (14)

No, we don't live very near woods. Didn't really get to see much of the offender as it happened so quick.

It's normally our cat that sorts the birds out, which is why I my garden is the National feeding centre for birds (lots of bird feeders in an attempt to get them out of his reach), but sadly Blackbirds do like worms, so its those that normally end up disected on our Kitchen floor.

Mike Rainbird

iTrader: (3)

Same thing happened to us, but was a wood pigeon it took (I hate them things anyway - as they bully all the small birds when we put food out ).

Disabled Account

The usual target is woodpeckers, if you ever see a woodpecker catching worms, you will notice how they stop and look up at the sky every 4 - 5 seconds or so. To a bird of prey the woodpeckers bright orange head markings makes them very easy to spot while feeding.

Bullett

iTrader: (2)

i dont have too many probs.same as you i have loads of different feeders. and have a ground feeder in middle of garden so they can spot cats early.not had too many attacks.got a good selection in our garden,black birds,great tits,blue tits the odd thrush. but i kive near woods and fields so it gets busy out there.
nice pic of hawk mike.

Bullett

iTrader: (2)

sorry just checked werent your pic mike. nice one neil

DaveEscos

89xr2

How do you know he wasnt randomly eating tea leaves?

sabres74

Woodpeckers don't eat worms. The only woodpecker that feeds on the ground is the Green Woodpecker and that eats ants.

BlueSmoke

I love black birds, they must give the PC brigade migranes cause they can't realistically call them anything else

rog

iTrader: (2)

See, "our KES" isn't dead after all.........

Stavros

I saw a hungry sparrow pick up a small child and fly away with him earlier.

Hope this helps

Steve

_DAN_

Stavros

AndyRST

A birds gotta eat, he was prob thinking look at you lot tucking into your roast chicken and then spotted dinner feeding in your garden

Christian and Beccy

iTrader: (14)

We have lots of feeders high up along the side of the garage wall, mostly the fat-based stuff (in little mesh bags). We also have a feeder that holds bird seed. We get all sorts of birds on there, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Chaffinch's etc. We also get alot of Starling's and Blackbirds on the ground. I am going to build a Bird-table in the middle of the garden, but its a case of being able to build it so it is well-protected from our Ted. We have a fairly big garden, but also a very determined cat. He has been camping out by a hole in next-doors wall since yesterday waiting for what I assume is a mouse to venture out, so that he can carry out his Teddy Lecter™ trademarked removal of its internal organs and bring the bits that he doesn't want indoors for us to see.

_DAN_

Bloody hell lively round yours

Bullett

iTrader: (2)

Christian and Beccy

thats cool. unfortunately its the hazard of having a cat and liking birds too.
im sure most of the time the birds will be fine even if the cat is sneaky.the ground feeders are natrually wary anyway so im sure they cope.
bet you love a dead mouse or 2! nice little prezzies for you. only trying to please their owner but it cant half be disgusting

BlueSmoke

Cats are funny. It's great when they sit in a bush, or crouch down, convinced the birds can't see them

Bullett

iTrader: (2)

yeah shame they dont realise their arse is in the air!

Christian and Beccy

iTrader: (14)

LOL. Yes, he loves to bring us 'gifts'. Often we get them 'live' too. It's weird when you get a mouse in, still alive, rescue it and take it to the end of the road, with the cat-flap locked. Then the little bastard brings it back the next day with half its body missing!!!

I love my cat, and my bird-interest (the feathered variety ) has only emerged since we moved into our current bungalow which has a big garden and has a fair bit of activity.

Christian and Beccy

iTrader: (14)

Ted also has one of these special things on his collar that has a leap-activated beep warning. I reckon it does work too. We have certainly had alot less birds in since. Doesn't help with mice etc though.

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

Mike1

They're here..............................!!

http://sped2work.tripod.com/thunderbirds.html

and watch out in Norfolk

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.../03/nowl03.xml