Sparrowhawk and Magpie interactions in Finningley

At 9.30am on 15th October 2024 I was watching 3 Goldfinches, a couple of Greenfinches and a female Chaffinch flying around and settling on the sunflower feeder on our John Downie crab apple tree when a male Sparrowhawk swept in and down onto the lawn (about 12m away from where I was standing in my kitchen) having grabbed one of the small birds, most likely one of the Goldfinches, but it was so quick I couldn’t see the snatch. As it stood there adjusting its grip on the bird that I still couldn’t see because of the grass 2 Magpies flew down and walked past him then joined by a third. The three moved until they were in positions around the Sparrowhawk not taking their gaze off the raptor until it took off, sadly still gripping its hapless prey. It flew off over the fence and our neighbour’s  garden with the three Magpies in hot pursuit. 

At around the same time the next day I was watching a number of small birds including 7 Greenfinches, 3 Goldfinches and some Tits: Great Tits, Blue Tits and a Coal Tit, in the John Downie crab apple tree visiting all the feeders there but especially the sunflower feeder. Suddenly the male Sparrowhawk swept in but this time the small birds were too quick for him and he was left perched on a branch with no breakfast! I watched for a minute or two and then thought he’d gone but realised he’d just moved branch and was perched on a branch where he wasn’t quite so visible. However moments later the Magpies appeared, one in the nearby Amelanchier tree, another went down onto the lawn and then the third arrived and settled high up in the crab apple tree from where it moved gradually down closer to the Sparrowhawk just as the other two also began to move in on the raptor. The Sparrowhawk sat it out for so long watching them closely but eventually gave up and flew off once again with the Magpies chasing after him.

With best wishes,

Tricia