Male Sparrowhawk ( Accipiter nisus )

This morning I noticed a Greenfinch looking distinctly peely-wally, it was sluggish, feathers all fluffed up and dull eyed.  It clearly wasn't well, which is a bit worrying as Greenfinches have crashed in numbers owing to the parasite Trichomonosis.  I laid the camera out ready to get a shot to try to see if there were any visible signs.

Later I was walking past the window and I spotted this magnificent fellow sitting on the grass.  Yes, you are right that is the Greenfinch it has in its talons.   Well, at least it isn't going to have slow lingering death.

The Eurasian Sparrowhawk found in the UK is one of 7 subspecies.  This individual has been paying occasional visits for a number of years.  At least all the visits have been by a male and as the average age for a Sparrowhawk is 4 years, with the record age set by ringing records is 17 years 1 month 11 days.