Sparrowhawk (male) on a mossy perch, Dumfries, Scotland

Sparrowhawk (male) on a mossy perch, Dumfries, Scotland - Sparrowhawk
Ringford, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland (January 2014)

This photo was taken at 8:45 am; sunrise was at about 8:05 am. Guided by Alan McFadyen, photographers enter the hide at about 7.30 am while it is still dark. The Reflection Pool Hide is a 2-person hide situated next to but set back from the 3-person Sparrowhawk hide. The Sparrowhawk perches can be viewed from the Reflection Pool hide but the pool cannot be seen from the Sparrowhawk hide. Here, the male Sparrowhawk is perched on one of the perches set up in front of the Sparrowhawk hide but the photo was actually taken from the Reflection Pool hide. During the 3-day 'Winter Special', this was the only sighting of the male bird which was soon apparently chased off by a female. Photographers rotated between the three hides - Reflection Pool, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard. The 2-person Buzzard hide is about a 15-minute walk uphill from the other two hides.

For more information on this bird species see the following links:
Eurasian Sparrowhawk / Internet Bird Collection
Eurasian Sparrowhawk / Bird Forum
BirdLife International / Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

Tv(Shutter Speed) 1/125
Av(Aperture Value) 4.0
Exposure Compensation -1/3
ISO Speed 2000

Close view of Sparrowhawk (male), Dumfries, Scotland


Also in: Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk (male) in flight, Abingdon
Sparrowhawk (male) perched on a tree branch
Sparrowhawk (female) in flight, Otmoor
Sparrowhawk (juvenile) perched on a branch
Sparrowhawk (juvenile) perched on a branch
Sparrowhawk (juvenile) calling, Otmoor
Sparrowhawk (juvenile) perched on a branch
Sparrowhawk (juvenile) perched on a branch
Sparrowhawk in flight over Stanpit Marsh
Close view of Sparrowhawk (male), Dumfries, Scotland
Sparrowhawk (male) at sunrise, Dumfries, Scotland
Sparrowhawk (male) perched on fence, Abingdon
Sparrowhawk (male) close-up, Abingdon
Sparrowhawk (male) eating prey, Abingdon
Sparrowhawk flying low & fast, Hawling, Gloucestershire