Birds of Prey

**Newryrep** · 27/05/2008, 11:57 AM

Seen a sparrowhawk in the neighbours gargen a few days ago, never seen a bird of prey before in the flesh, especially that close 5-7 metres- it had killed a pigeon and was plucking it.

Made my day - as i hate pigeons as well

http://www.irishfieldsports.com/raptors/

**Sligo Hornet** · 27/05/2008, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by Newryrep

Seen a sparrowhawk in the neighbours gargen a few days ago, never seen a bird of prey before in the flesh, especially that close 5-7 metres- it had killed a pigeon and was plucking it.

Made my day - as i hate pigeons as well

http://www.irishfieldsports.com/raptors/

I misread the penultimate line of your post............just trying to erase the crazy image from my mind!

**Stevo Da Gull** · 27/05/2008, 2:11 PM

You lucky duck Newryrep. I've seen either a Sparrowhak or a Kestrel a couple of times, one in my garden and another flying (can't remember where I was when I saw that

.. I think I was in a car though).

**SkStu** · 27/05/2008, 2:33 PM

i used to go hunting back home (mostly when i was in Galway county where my family is all from) and its amazing the amount of wildlife you get to see and often on quite a regular basis. Used to see hawks a lot. You can literally sit there and watch them in action for hours, deadly animals.

Ive actually seen quite a few while driving into Clontarf, along dollymount.

**osarusan** · 27/05/2008, 2:53 PM

http://www.hawk-conservancy.org/imag...rbell2mos2.JPG
Japanese Lesser Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis)

I have had one of these fly down and steal a sandwich from my hand, leaving an inch-long gash in my left index finger.

Rapidly disappearing countryside has meant these birds have started flying over parks in the city I'm living in, waiting to steal food from picnics etc. They're actually bloody dangerous, especially for little kids who have food in their hands.