The Sparrowhawk is a rare visitor to Croome, or rather it's rarely spotted. The male pictured here flew overhead, close by the church. They have characteristic piercing bright eyes which are orange in the male or yellow in the female. The Sparrowhawk is a very fast flyer (that's how it catches its prey), so it is not easy to get a good view unless its perched. I've not seen one on the bird feeders, but that would be a good food source (and I don't mean the seeds). For this reason, Sparrowhawks are often spotted in back gardens.

Recently I have started seeing a few more Sparrowhawks at Croome, one flew near the Walled Garden, and is often heard one calling there: kew-kew-kew-kew-kew. Another place I have seen them is along the end of the ridge walk, towards the south of the estate. The two below are females, both spotted a long way away, much the same place, one in winter, one in summer...