Now that autumn is well under way and there's frost on the roof every morning there has been an influx of small birds into the garden - various tits, goldfinches, greenfinches and the like. So this afternoon I cleaned the bird tables and feeders and bought some wild bird food, in preparation for the winter garden bird season.
It turns out that I wasn't the only one anticipating the arrivals on the bird table.....
This beautiful visitor from higher up the food chain appeared on the garden fence.
I've never really had a good look at a sparrowhawk's talons before, but take a look at that amazing extended middle toe.
When I was at school I had a chemistry master who had an index finger like that, which he used to single out hapless pupils that he fired questions at....
Nice photo. Here I have been watching the Bald Eagle in the tree just on the lot line. Talk about a big bird!
ReplyDeleteA bit like a feathered aye-aye!
ReplyDeleteIs this a young bird?
I really envy you watching a bald eagle..... largest raptors around here are buzzards ....
ReplyDeleteHi snippa, yes, I think it's a juvenile. Looks a bit bemused, doesn't it...?
ReplyDeleteIt is certainly a beautiful bird, amazing talons.
ReplyDeletePerhaps that's him re-incarnated. lol
ReplyDeleteGreat shot of the mighty hunter.
Never knew that about the sparrowhawk's toe :-)
ReplyDeleteme neither Mel, most bird books don't seem to mention it....
ReplyDeleteOoh!I thought only maths teachers had talons like those!
ReplyDelete