bodger
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Me pigeons ADD it !
For the last few weeks we've been seranaded by the timeless cooing of woodpigeons in a large conifer just outside our backdoor. We have felt fortunate to be able to witness nature up close as Mr and Mrs Woodpigeon flitted in and out as they took it in turn to do the brooding. Alas no more, because nature of a different variety came to call just a few short minutes ago. 'ONE OF ME FEVVERED FRIENDS AS ADD IT !'
Have a look at these.
Joking apart, it was a real privelage to see this bird up so close and bloody. 
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Pilsbury
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nature at its best, nice pics
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Jonnyboy
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Cool, what a treat to see for real.
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Simon
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Did you shoot the raptor?
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bodger
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| Simon wrote: | | Did you shoot the raptor? |
Are you nuts ?  Only with my digital
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lettucewoman
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beeeoooootiful sparrowhawk!!
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GSHP
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Fantastic photos. Unusual for a sparrowhawk to take something as large as a wood pigeon. Easy target ?
Illegal to shoot with anything other than a camera.
Swallows arrived on mass today. I saw a solitary one about ten days ago but today they have well and truly arrived.
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bodger
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Who'd want to ? I keep chickens and Birmingham rollers in an area that has numerous species of raptors. Its my choice to keep them and wouldn't dream of taking steps against them. Now foxes, thats a different matter. Birds of prey take sufficient to survive, whilst foxes would take the lot and kill for killings sake.
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GSHP
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Totally agree ....beautiful birds.
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Effie
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Your feathered friend has indeed really, truly had it, but how utterly amazing to watch up that close.
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tiggy
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Where do I find a pigeon slaying hawk like that.The local moggies cant be bothered and Im p*ssed off with pigeons and their sh*t and their destructive habits.We are reputed to have a sparrowhawk in the next street but no visits here to slay pigeons. I suppose you just get lucky if such a wondrous bird flies in.
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Woodburner
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| tiggy wrote: | | Where do I find a pigeon slaying hawk like that.The local moggies cant be bothered and Im p*ssed off with pigeons and their sh*t and their destructive habits.We are reputed to have a sparrowhawk in the next street but no visits here to slay pigeons. I suppose you just get lucky if such a wondrous bird flies in. |
Lol their sh** is the only good thing about them if you can't make them into pies. Good fertiliser 
I saw a hawk of some sort actually in Mum's garden a while back/ Couldn't believe it. I haven't seen one for ages before that and not since either. 
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lottie
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There are raptors in abundance here but they have never taken a chick or duckling and they would be easy prey----perhaps I've been lucky.
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bodger
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As I was mucking out the horses yesterday morning, I got a second much closer look at her. I heard a cafuffle in the conifers less than ten yards away from where I was standing. This time it was the turn of a dove to cop it. On turning round, I was in time to see the sparrowhawk latched onto a dove as they fell through the branches to the floor. She quickly recovered and flew to a quiet part of the garden to enjoy her brunch. Its lucky that we have a plentiful supply of woodies and doves to go round. In the meantime, my Birmingham Roller pigeons are staying put nice and safely in their loft.
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Simon
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| bodger wrote: | | Simon wrote: | | Did you shoot the raptor? |
Are you nuts ? Only with my digital |
Sorry, bad joke. 
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bodger
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but what if I'd said yes ?  I would have had my downsizers cut off. 
I've had my pigeons off two local fanciers, one has lost 47 birds to the peregrine in the last year and the other 20 odd. I don't think that my birds have a particualrly rosey future.
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Brownbear
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The hawk protection and release policies have succeded to the point where there is a split developing in the RSPB between hawk fans and songbird enthusiasts, who are vexed to see their favourites guzzled down by the Hell's Angels of the sky.
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vegplot
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We saw one last year devouring a pigeon in a car park of all places. We managed to get really close but alas no camera.
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Northern_Lad
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A couple of years ago a hark took a pigeon from my neighbour's feeder and ate it at the bottom of my garden - 10 feet from my kitchen window. Did a very tidy job and only left the feathers and bones.
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