Sparrowhawk in the hand

This morning's ringing session was 4 hours in our private garden site in Sheffield. The ringing was initially quite slow, but, by the end of the morning, 25 birds of 12 species (Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Jay, Sparrowhawk, Nuthatch, Great, Blue, Coal and Long-tailed Tit)  had been  caught. Highlights were a stunning Jay and a first for me, a superb juvenile male Sparrowhawk!

Gorgeous!

Painful!

My personal totals were (new/retrap):

Great Tit 0/1, Long-tailed Tit 0/1, Blue Tit 1/0, Nuthatch 0/1, Sparrowhawk 1/0, Dunnock 0/1 and Chaffinch 1/0.

Other birds noted during the morning were several flocks of Redwings (40+), which were feeding on nearby fields, along with a  couple of Fieldfares. Also present were House Sparrows and Starlings.

During the week I added 1 more bird to the Year List, when a Tawny Owl was heard calling at 6am from the nearby cemetery.

75 - Tawny Owl