Mikepércs: Wren And Sparrow Hawk

I counted on the sparrow hawk again today, but I hoped by stealth that the flock of a long-tailed tits would visit the pool as well, for I was witness of their bath the other day.

The first visitor of today's cloudy morning is a jay landing on the side of the pool to have a few gulps of water.

Then a robin appears a few times in the bush nearby but doesn't land on the pool this time either.

Later I can hear the voice of a wren, which soon lands at the end of the pool:

Wren

Wren

Having had a look round it flies away.
Soon the sparrow hawk appears on the side of the pool, splashes into the water to have a bath.
Yet it's keeping an eye:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Then it leaves as suddenly as it has arrived.

Mikepércs: Bathing Sparrow Hawk

It's a long time I took a photo worth uploading here. My last time attempt was unsuccessful near Fancsika pond, not even a single bird appeared on the small pool. Then came the bad weather. Today I gave a try at my old bathing pool as at this time of the year I can count on "something" there.

I don't arrive too early, the sun already lights the end of the pool. Nothing is happening for half an hour then I can hear the voice of a robin from the bushes nearby. It even shows itself but it doesn't land in front of me. Then wing swish breaks the silence: a jay arrives on top of a bush nearby then lands at the end of the pool. Having made sure that the place is safe it drinks then it flies away. There's silence again. Suddenly a male sparrow hawk appears from nowhere on the side of the pool jumping into the water soon:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

It's drinking ...:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

... and turning about, perhaps searching the deeper water, as the pool isn't filled completely. No problem, yet it's having a good bath.
It's attention is caught for a moment by a small bird I suppose:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Suddenly it flies away to return after 10 minutes if it's the same bird, as this time it's got a crest on top of its head:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

It's contemplating and while looking down he might say to himself: "You are expecting me to dabble in such a little water?!":

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Then he brings himself to have a bath after all:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

It moves leisurely pausing now and then:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

And suddenly it starts gaping like a fish:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

It goes on gaping after each dip:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

Sparrow Hawk (male)

After the long bath it flies away again.
A few minutes later a great tit arrives to have a bath too, but after that I decide to leave.

Mikepércs: Sparrow Fighting

I expected some action today and I hoped that the hawfinches would bring some more interesting scenes in today's photography.

The first worthwhile photo is taken of a sparrow hawk:

Sparrow Hawk

It doesn't stay long on the mossy trunk, but it comes closer and lands on the side of the pool:

Sparrow Hawk

It soon flies away, so the tits and the sparrows return:

Great Tit and Tree Sparrow

The sparrows keep on fighting:

Tree Sparrows

Tree Sparrows

Tree Sparrows

Tree Sparrows

Tree Sparrows

They even trample on each other's neck:

Tree Sparrows

Tree Sparrows

Tree Sparrows

Then a woodpecker appears sending off the sparrows:

Great Spotted Woodpecker (male)

But the woodpecker has come for one seed only, so when it leaves, the sparrows return at once:

Tree Sparrows

Tree Sparrows

The landing woodpecker expels every bird again for a few seconds:

Great Spotted Woodpecker (male)

Tree Sparrows

Tree Sparrows

The sparrows are tearing, kicking each other:

Tree Sparrows

Tree Sparrows

It's easy to knock over the smaller tit:

Blue Tit and Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrows

Although the hawfinches haven't come today, the sparrows have made a lot of interesting scenes.

Mikepércs: Action

Having a sunny day, I prepared for action photography.

The sparrows are the first to make the scene:

Tree Sparrows

Meanwhile a pheasant cock appears, it's searching for dropped seeds:

Pheasant cock

It doesn't stay long, soon leaves the place. And a woodpecker comes:

Great Spotted Woodpecker (male)

Later a male sparrow hawk strikes in and lands in front of the side window of my hide! I should turn for it, but he could spot me. In the moment he's looking elsewhere I manage to turn my camera towards him and make a portait shot:

Sparrow Hawk (male)

(I'm not satisfied with the shots taken of the whole bird.) He flies off soon.
So, the tits are back making the scene:

Great Tits

Great Tits

Great Tit

Great Tits

Great Tits

The woodpecker doesn't stay away either and starts pecking the landing branch to get the hidden seeds more easily. First time under the branch, ...:

Great Spotted Woodpecker (male)

... next time from above:

Great Spotted Woodpecker (male)

Finally I record a scratching tit:

Great Tit