Sparrowhawk nest site in the distance
Half a mile from ‘civilisation’ and yet one could be in the middle of a huge forest. I have learned to find my own way to a ‘sit spot’ at a respectful distance from this nest site, marking the journey first by the heavily compacted dirt path, then by a felled trunk, a snakey fallen branch, a dry stream bed that has to be traversed twice, a huge holly bush, and, finally, a small clearing packed with tall green ferns.
Watching this sparrowhawk nest has entailed long periods of inactivity interspersed with views of downy white heads and dark, observant eyes, their barely barred bodies warmed by the early evening sun; and intense excitement as an adult announces an incoming meal with a ‘ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki’ as it flies from the plucking branch in a nearby tree. The food is deposited into the nest in an instant – the male especially doesn’t hang around, perhaps due to his much smaller size – then it’s heads down and three fluffy white rears are pointed skywards as the chicks tuck in.
Recently, though, the young have been wing-flapping, balancing on the edge of their nest high in the mountain ash, its orange berries flaming in the sunlight. These wing flaps are getting stronger and longer and, coupled with little hops, occasionally send one particular bird onto the nest edge. There is a marked size difference between the three juveniles, with this one being the largest, with the most developed feathers. The white fluff on (presumably) her chest has gone, totally replaced by greyish barring on a creamy background, whilst the other two young still have a white patch down the centre of theirs.
Today, as the wind rocks their nest and rustles through the leaves on the rest of the trees surrounding this small clearing, these two birds are also making short flappy forays onto the branches. Only a foot or so from the nest, but it’s all part of the fledging process – slow and steady does it – and I feel privileged to be sitting here, hidden in the ferns, assailed by mosquitoes, watching these precious little raptors learning how to live.