Odds and Ends (17th October)

Thought I'd start a new Thread for 'Strange and Unusual' sightings. Not your classic Accidentals and Vagrant Drop-ins, more a case of Tales of the Unexpected and Bizarre.

So today I spent an interesting and entertaining half hour, along with four work colleagues, aiding a Sparrowhawk to exit our American Car workshop in Gore Road, New Milton. With all the doors wide open, strip-lights extinguished, and one brave individual balancing on the Spares racking and waving his arms whenever the bird attempted to break through the perspex roofing, we eventually encouraged our visitor to shoot smartly out the back door, probably confused but definitely undamaged.

My first real view of a Sparrowhawk, and so close and clear - at times it was within arm's length. Pretty sure it was a male because of the definite rufous chest colouring. It was probably aiming for the two squabs in the sycamore just outside the loading bay door. And that's another thing - isn't mid-October a bit late for two baby Wood Pigeons to be just starting to exercise their wings? Or maybe it's just that as a beginner I've never noticed before!

Regards to all from PamRA