Sparrowhawk

Epervier d'Europe avec sa proie.

Sparrowkawk with its prey :

That afternoon I was quietly walking in the garden when I saw this female sparrowhawk catch a Turkish turtle-dove in a nearby tree. It tried to fly away with its prey but it had to land in a field because the turtle-dove was too heavy. I immediately came back home to take my photo equipment (Canon 350D + 300mm F4 + 1.4 extender) and I started a long approach of the raptor, crawling through the field. After one hour of slow progression I was about ten meters far from the bird. It was really exciting and even extraordinary because the sparrowhawk was such occupied to devour its prey that he accepted my presence without showing fear or stress. Sometimes he looked at me with its hypnotizing glance and that made me tremble with emotion. It was a magic moment!