Early start - got up at 4.45am. Didn't get home til about 9.30pm. Between these times I was at Castor Hanglands, one of my old stomping grounds near Peterborough.
![Lesser Redpoll](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s1UV12Z6e5ZicaI31sPRRfFpLcfLieXc6Lz4vSf97zeV-GnJt8raoNO4-7Sq9Bi7aQrOwnjkezMlLbKX1KrnS1z2rWJjeNrcepQIfa6IIoH3jb9vvmv_m3YXV3KWRR27k=s0-d) |
Lesser Redpoll |
We caught about 120 birds...
- Lesser Redpoll
- Siskin
- Chaffinch
- Great Tit
- Blue Tit
- Coal Tit
- Long-tailed Tit
- Marsh Tit
- Treecreeper
- Blackbird
- Redwing
- Song Thrush
- Tree Sparrow
- Goldcrest
- Sparrowhawk!
![Sparrowhawk](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vudLxXI5FGtbePSi4HNQ0QII2IJ-HdF4hwCZPNSSVOhISFwxQWT8Si99mxQhCmr72zc-LMCnwQBlA98L3EQ3FkMsDv4LfWP7aO8z2eF-Y7j2-V9d374EhLdCQUIuMtZVo=s0-d) |
Juvenile male Sparrowhawk |
For me, this was the highlight: a juvenile male Sparrowhawk. I haven't handled many birds of prey so it was a really good opportunity to deal with a bird that actually could hurt me - if it wanted to, and if I wasn't careful enough.
We got it out of the net without too much trouble, and put it in a cotton bird bag until we were ready to ring it. Then, I had to put my hand into the bag containing the hawk, and get the bird out again without letting it escape.
I could see the sharp talons sticking out through the cotton, so at least I knew where they were...
![Sparrowhawk](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vQKKyA3hRHdzq9UcUtkMOqHz9nN3Pv5C5cWVW-QnEoZgRn1hc-GS9F4LXuV51-2XwjKzbxC7O3WN0T-Y4RfPaThWrAVOAntQUFipbe69VcRmCl-wXNQSm4gSLEZlxBld8=s0-d) |
the eyes have it |
Normally you identify the bird, put the ring on, and then do the ageing, sexing and biometrics (weighing, fat and muscle scoring, and measuring wing length).
With Sparrowhawks there's such a size difference between males and females they take different ring sizes (males being smaller). The wing length confirmed it was a male, and the chestnut-brown edges to the back and wing feathers show it hatched earlier this year.
The Sparrowhawk was surprisingly docile while I handled it. It had a look of rage in its eyes, though. When we were finished, it was a pleasure to release it. What a bird...
![Sparrowhawk wing](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vuU66tjaV-GEjpjKHy0aIjdmf-C9AMA1FVDl3qNVIPvN0XvxVXNaSc2213QLe8Nzwc8ddfkrqYkiEnGFYTh_2_j02r80UFEzKe0qLomi1lN28DJ74PEXRjz1guc3cRqRY=s0-d) |
underwing... |
![Sparrowhawk wing](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sr9a2Jv2f8RO3Iuk13CeVXH7tdJLFa75Dye4vlDkcORnvKsOH7fMNwnq_8WiLzYvdvi2xLEDA2kTI7R63AOeQw76PmKGlNzhUsisFp1x5S-EUrtSJTHAGxU3QXL4yu1Hc=s0-d) |
and upperwing |
![Female Siskin](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ux60cAbOzKstL0Os61k2BQ4a5TIDpr7BK612_K5VpQvTE2rWDcaB_y4-PKr9NPgkxhThIzsI_v49vCufCBkciQCSL0iDM6nRWKUD8EwApkrrBskELGI_NEsXLauA5WyqM=s0-d) |
now for something smaller - a female Siskin |
![Lottie](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_v2v_mlOcUFpjEumRf8QxpLi4igINFT5HEFBXQHkQDGSVbNNBhK2Y1fsk8P4Vhf1RPpJ-UnoHiBL1XvXKRUXiLLu8Yd0AW_HsGQWw1bYsztYEXL5p6cAAIGqfvXN4viLQ=s0-d) |
and Lottie, who kept us entertained between net rounds with her stick-chasing and chewing |
photos taken with
Canon EOS 30D
I don't think I could have dared to get my hand that close to a Sparrowhawk. Fabulous photos.
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