Mikepércs: Last Images Of The Year

The last day of the year started with a thick fog, but I managed to take a few decent shots:

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Marsh Tit

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Mikepércs: Still Sparrow Hawk

Again a frosty morning and again I'm waiting for the sparrow hawk, and not in vain. First the tree sparrows appeared, ...:

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

... then one of the woodpeckers came to have breakfast:

Great Spotted Woodpecker

The sparrow hawk emerged suddenly as usual, this time on the side of the pool. And this time I was able to make the portrait:

Sparrow Hawk

Then he landed right on the branch that I had placed for him:

Sparrow Hawk

Sparrow Hawk

Sparrow Hawk

The preening ...:

Sparrow Hawk

... and the yawn didn't lag behind:

Sparrow Hawk

Sparrow Hawk

He disappeared as suddenly as he came. It was the tits' turn then:

Blue Tit

Marsh Tit

Mikepércs: The Sparrow Hawk Appears Again

Everything was covered by hoar frost this morning but sunshine could be expected later. So I hoped for some action shots as well. The tree sparrows appeared first at the frozen bathing pool:

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

They could be cold as well:

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Of course the tits came too:

Blue Tit

Suddenly a big panic took place, and in that moment the sparrow hawk appeared in front of me. He chose another landing place this time:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

He spent his time with preening ...:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

... and with observing the small birds:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

"I'm going to fell asleep soon":

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Suddenly he aimed at something and flew away. So the small birds returned:

Blue Tit

A few minutes later however the sparrow hawk landed on the same place :

Sparrow Hawk (male)

The small birds kept on attracting his eyes:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Then he flew away again.
At that hour the ice of the pool was melting, so the birds could drink as well:

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

I failed to make sparrow action shots, but the sparrow hawk images compensated me today.

Mikepércs: Sparrow Hawk Attacking Again

I left for photography this morning in a really thick fog. I could see as far as 20 meters! In this condition the first pictures were a bit "foggy":

Great Tit

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Then the fog started to clear:

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Suddenly I could hear a shrill from the tits and the sparrow hawk appeared at once. He landed on the heap of branches near the feeder and looked down among the branches with interest, as the sparrows often hide in them, espacially in case of emergency. Then he settled right on the branch wich I placed there especially for him:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

He stayed there for a while, was preening himself, ...:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

... and was looking with excitement at the flying small birds:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Stretching ...:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

... then scratching took place:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Meanwhile the Sun started to shine:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Suddenly he aimed at something and flew away. So the small birds could come back:

Marsh Tit

The sparrow hawk returned soon but landed on a branch lying in the grass. I was very afraid that I couldn't see it well as he was preening himself so nicely. Then he flew off again to return soon. He landed even on the side of the bathing pool, but this time he was too close, I wasn't able to take photos of him (It would have been a nice portrait). He settled a few minutes on top of the hide then next to it before he eventually flew off. So the small birds returned again:

Eurasian Tree Sparrows

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

I tried to take some action shots as the sparrows were spatting a lot. These were not very successful attempts because there wasn't too much light. This is the only shot acceptable:

Eurasian Tree Sparrows

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

I left for home around noon with delight having caught this male sparrow hawk which is about to become a regular guest.