http://www.sparrowhawk-island.co.uk/live...ldlife_cams.php

The cam is on now and she's incubating. Does anyone have a better link (larger image) than the one above?

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IMG_3514.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte) We had a power outage all day, so I was forced to entertain myself with a book. I chose The Sparrowhawk by Ian Newton. I'll be quoting from this book on this thread today and in the future, so here's a picture of the cover.

"The Sparrowhawk belongs to one of the largest groups of raptors, forming the genus Accipiter, which contains about 50 species... Over most of Europe it breeds alongside its larger relative the Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). Together, the two species form a graded size series, from male and female Sparrowhawk to male and female Goshawk.

"Compared to most birds of prey, the Sparrowhawk is small, but it shows a remarkable divergence between the sexes. The larger female measures about 14 inches from head to tail and weighs around 10 ounces while the smaller male measures about 12 inches and weighs around 5 ounces.

"The Goshawk is also the main natural predator of the Sparrowhawk, taking adult birds, together with nestlings and fledglings which have recently left the nest. It was exterminated in Britain during the 19th century but has reestablished itself in some regions, as a result of escapes of falconry birds imported from the continent.

"Like many other birds, Sparrowhawks replace their plumage once each year. Their moult takes about four months and overlaps extensively with breeding. Most females begin in May, around the time of egg laying, and most males begin in June, around the time of hatch. Both sexes continue into September or October, well beyond the date in August when their young become independent. However, many individuals stop moulting for a period in mid June to mid August, while they are feeding large young."

sparrowhawk 5 eggs.png - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte) I see five eggs today; I'm not sure when the fifth one appeared. I heard some interesting soft vocalizations this morning. Dad was visiting the nest. sparrowhawk glimpse of dad.png - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Here are a few more quotes from The Sparrowhawk by Ian Newton.

Despite its abundance, the Sparrowhawk is seldom seen. It spends most of its time in cover, and when in the open it flies fast and low, unnoticed by the human eye.

…whereas the Kestrel has the long pointed wings of a falcon, the Sparrowhawk has the short broad wings of an accipiter.

Sparrowhawks distribute themselves in individual territories or ‘home ranges’, each of which contains a nesting place and hunting areas. In some districts such nesting places can be as close as 550 yards to one another, but in other districts they can be more than 2 miles apart.

Two factors can set a limit on breeding densities: in sparsely wooded terrain, as in most of Britain, breeding numbers are limited by shortage of nesting places (woods), whereas in well wooded terrain, where nesting places are superabundant, numbers are limited instead by food supply.

Feeding on a wide range of bird species, the hawks are buffered against a temporary shortage of any one species, so can maintain their numbers from year to year. In contrast, Kestrels in most districts have restricted diets, based on voles.

In the commonest method of hunting, called ‘short-stay perch-hunting’, the hawk makes a series of short flights through woodland or from one patch of cover to the next, pausing for a few minutes to scan the surroundings, and then passing on to the next perch to search again.

From small prey the hawk eats all parts of the carcass – bones, guts and all – and leaves only the feathers. But from large birds it often leaves bill, legs or other parts which are difficult to break up and swallow.

Despite this heavy predation, Sparrowhawks are not known to have any long-term effect on the breeding numbers of their prey species. The main effect of Sparrowhawks on their prey is to alter the seasonal pattern of mortality and reduce the numbers of prey dying from other causes.

Sparrowhawks breed in summer, when their food is most readily available. At this season the songbird prey are themselves breeding, so there are many vulnerable fledglings for Sparrowhawks to eat… the period of peak food demand, when the majority of hawks have young, coincides with the period of peak fledgling supply, mid-June to mid-July.

There's a hatch happening right now! I saw a half open egg, but mom had to cover it up before I got a scap.

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Here's a scap. What about the egg at 3 o'clock?

Mom is soooo sleepy. Here's she's trying to sleep with one eye open... and the other eye.
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These four are well fed. At first they weren't interested in eating, but then they got themselves organized. I like seeing the little one in the front row.

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I find this funny. Is she trying to brood them? Or just making herself comfortable in the middle of the nest surrounded by her chicks?

Quick way to count -by touch.??

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It looks like there is perhaps condensation or some kind of film on the cam housing, and the white chicks appear to have a halo or aura.