Sparrowhawk standoff!

Regular visitors to this blog may recognise the oak tree in the photos below: it's in the fields at the end of my neighbours' garden Over the years I've seen an amazing variety of birds perched in its crown, from woodpeckers to Turtle Doves, Spotted Flycatchers, gulls and several species of raptor!

This Wood Pigeon was absolutely confident he could see off a Sparrowhawk that appeared next to him: he toughed it out until the raptor backed down and flew away!