[CDave]

Great thread and great photos. Is there a difference between the male and female? I sometimes see what I presumed to be a sparrowhawk at out allotment site - but it looked a bit smaller with more brown/red on its breast.

[Herb]

Yes. Males are often smaller, have grey upper parts and redder under parts.

Have a look on the rspb website,  it should have pictures of both.

[ANHBUC]

As herb said the males are smaller and different markings.  They also feed on smaller birds, it is the female that will tackle things like pigeon.

www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/sparrowhawk/index.aspx

The only thing left on the drive today was a skull, one wing and a pile of feathers.  Not easy to clean up when it is damp.   

[splash101]

lousy timing with the snow but ref my earlier post, the finches have hatched their eggs. 4 little fluff balls no bigger than my little finger nail.

I didnt want to get in too close but i went to check the drinking water hadnt frozen and she came off the nest and i could see the fluff wriggling.

I'll try for photos in a few days but not sure how successful they will be, it'll have be with the zoom on.

[ANHBUC]

They must think the timing is ok!   

I have 10 mixed hens eggs that should be fertile so I am waiting to see if Dotty will take up broody duties.  They are just in an eglu classic that only she has access to.  If she doesn't it can't be the right time for her.

[splash101]

These finches think any time is right,  they dont need a nod and a wink  even if there's no nest boxes.
They have built there own nest like nature intended. It's amazing to see how they have built it, seems to be a lot of the quails feathers that they dropped during moulting, well i say dropped, i dont think they'd hit the ground before they'd been swiped.

[ANHBUC]