Gosshawk in garden. Stafford

[Flying Peach]

My Wife sent me a text at work to say there is a Gosshawk in the garden eating a pigeon. I had my doubts at first but she had taken a picture of it through the kitchen window. I went outside later in the evening with a torch to find a skull and feathers from the pigeon.
Dean
Bednall Stafford

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by Flying Peach

My Wife sent me a text at work to say there is a Gosshawk in the garden eating a pigeon. I had my doubts at first but she had taken a picture of it through the kitchen window. I went outside later in the evening with a torch to find a skull and feathers from the pigeon.
Dean
Bednall Stafford

Hi there, could you post the photo to let us have a look?

A Goshawk would be a highly unlikely bird to be hunting in gardens, it's more likely to be a large female Sparrowhawk, although I've been around birds long enough not to say never

Cheers, John

[Churcho]

I have been visited three times by a female sparrowhawk, attracted no doubt by the birds on the many feeders I put out. I have never heard of a Goshawk in a garden but that is not to say it never happens, but a sparrowhawk does seem more likely.

[Flying Peach]

I said it would be a Sparrowhawk when she told me. It's not really the average back garden because it is in the open countryside and it backs on to Cannock Chase with no neighbouring gardens etc. Goshawks are breeding on Cannock Chase an after alomst 30 years watching birds I'm positive it's not a Sparrowhawk.