Just thought that it would be worth quickly posting that both of the blackbird chicks (described below) have since met their maker at the hands of a hen sparrowhawk. One of them was killed just a few minutes after I published the post on Monday, and the other died yesterday, flailing its feathers all through the potato patch as the sparrowhawk chalked up another kill.
From my perspective, it was exciting for a sparrowhawk to hunt through the garden, but once was enough. Taking both birds in the brood was a bit much. The fledglings were early and the blackbirds will probably have another batch this year, but a little moderation would have been appreciated on the sparrowhawk’s part.
Pretty far off topic insofar as gamekeeping and grouse are concerned, but I thought that it was worth mentioning.
Bog Myrtle & Peat 
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