ryaldinhio 5,188 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 I dont have a photo so not as easy as that though Im sure someone will know. I live down a dirt track which is over hung both side by trees on the approach to the house. I look out the window this morning and something flew past extremely fast very low to the ground. It looked quite a bit bigger than a sparrowhawk. As it turned at the end I saw a flash of bars on its underside so it may have just been a big spar. Any other ideas what it may have been? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trappa 518 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Odds are it will have been a female sparrowhawk. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
neil cooney 10,416 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 We don't have them over here but I've seen them in England, would it have been a Goshawk ? 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HedgeCrawler 224 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 It could have been a female sparr or a buzzard,what shape was the tail. Buzzards have the fanned tail,sparrow hawks have more of a wedge.Buzzard are opportunists and will drop onto rabbits or pheasant from high branches. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tiercel 6,986 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 If you are confident that is is bigger than a spar, I would say a Goshawk also. TC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stealthy1 3,964 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Where the wing tips fingered or pointed? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peterhunter86 8,627 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 It could have been a female sparr or a buzzard,what shape was the tail. Buzzards have the fanned tail,sparrow hawks have more of a wedge.Buzzard are opportunists and will drop onto rabbits or pheasant from high branches. Ive never seen a buzzard flying at speed was prob female spar or goss. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stealthy1 3,964 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ryaldinhio 5,188 Posted January 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Definitely wasnt a buzzard. I was thinking Gos Hawk thats why I asked on here but done some reading and apparantley its difficult to tell a female spar from a goshawk so Im thinking it was a female spar. I generally know my birds but have seen something a few times now that looks bigger than spar/kestrel but not a buzzard. Always just a fleeting glance though. Whatever it is it is very fast. Im guna keep my eyes peeled and try to get a better sighting. Arent Gos hawks quite rare and generally found in dense woodland? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ryaldinhio 5,188 Posted January 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Thats the one I watched about 5 mins ago 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stealthy1 3,964 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Thats the one I watched about 5 mins ago I've just spent the last five minutes watching it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lanesra 4,007 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 We don't have them over here but I've seen them in England, would it have been a Goshawk ? Didn't realise You's didn't have them . . I'd say a female Sparrow hawk but you never know could of been a male Gos & if so your lucky . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DogFox123 1,379 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 (edited) A Sparrowhawk used to hunt birds regularly on our estate, sometimes all you would see is a puff of feathers. We also had a visit from a flock of Waxwings on the roof, little beauties they are. Edited January 4, 2017 by DogFox123 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bell 3,609 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Low to the ground.......sparrowhawk..... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
neil cooney 10,416 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 (edited) We don't have them over here but I've seen them in England, would it have been a Goshawk ?Didn't realise You's didn't have them . . I'd say a female Sparrow hawk but you never know could of been a male Gos & if so your lucky . We have enough, LOL, any amount of Buzzards and the last few years our Spars and Kestrels have got rarer. Wonder why ? They're releasing Red Kites now and I have to say I like to see them. Then again, I used to like to see a Buzzard, but not 6 or 7 of them in a morning. Edited January 4, 2017 by neil cooney Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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