Sparrowhawk versus woodpecker versus magpie

I've seen a few sparrowhawk predations in my garden, especially during the winter months. They've usually been things like blue tits, but today's events took me by surprise and made me wish I could spend more time at home.
My evening phone conversation with hubby was suddenly interrupted when he saw a sparrowhawk drag a greater spotted woodpecker from our peanut feeder.
Describing it in real time as he watched events unfold, my other half described how the bird of prey was hanging on to the woodpecker, which was clinging in vain to the feeder.
The birds fell to the ground with the sparrowhawk creating a cloak with its wings over the would-be prey, but the woodpecker quickly escaped to the shelter of our last year's Christmas tree, which is planted next to the feeder.
The woodpecker was now out of sight but was squeaking and the sparrowhawk made two attempts to approach it but eventually gave up and moved to the shed roof, presumably to wait it out, away from the woodpecker's sharp beak.
But the commotion also attracted the attention of a curious magpie, which began tentatively approaching the injured bird.
Faced with further opposition, the sparrowhawk flew off, followed shortly by the disinterested magpie.
At this point my hubby hung up, expecting that he'd have to put the woodpecker out of its misery, but instead he got the fright of his life.
He called me back a few minutes later to say he'd pulled back the Christmas tree and the startled bird flew straight past him, first into the chicken wire veg patch fence and then up into the tree.
Here's hoping it recovers.

Sparrowhawk drops by for breakfast

I opened the curtains this morning to find a sparrowhawk tucking into one of our garden birds on the corner of the compost heap frame.
By the time I saw it, the prey was pretty much unidentifiable but, from the colour of the feathers, I wondered whether it was a nuthatch.
I spent a good fifteen minutes watching the sparrowhawk tug and tear at its breakfast before it cleaned its beak on the wooden frame then flew away, leaving nothing but a pile of feathers.
Unsurprisingly, the nearby bird feeder is unusually quiet this rainy Sunday morning.

Sparrowhawk pays us a visit

I just looked out of my window to see what birds were on the feeder - expecting to see a woodpecker or a couple of great tits.
Instead, the feeder was looking rather deserted and, rather than the usual array of garden birds, I saw a sparrowhawk perched on the edge of my compost heap, surveying the area - no doubt looking for some lunch.
It's not the first time we have seen birds of prey in the garden - sparrowhawks and kestrels are regular visitors here in the winter - but this is the first time we have seen one at this time of year.
It was a browny colour, so presumably a female, and had white feathers on its wings and back.
It sat there for ages, looking about. I managed to get a couple of shots but decided to watch it through my binoculars.
What a treat...