Image: Duncan Marquiss, Search Film, 2015 (Film Still). Courtesy of the artists.

Despite being a quiet spell for observing Sparrowhawk activity in the garden, it is still possible from time to time to come across tell-tale signs of their continued presence. You might for instance happen to see an incongruous collection of feathers concentrated in a certain area on the lawn. This usually indicates where a sparrowhawk has had their dinner after plucking the plumage of their prey. Afterwards the foxes may have made off with the scraps leaving not much to see really but the clues are there if you know how to look for them.

I wanted to mention that I also went to a showing of “Search Film” by Duncan Marquiss at Inverleith house which had raptor recording as its subject matter. It was a particularly thought-provoking film which examined the parallels between searching for or tracking animals in the wild and the perhaps more familiar activities that we do day-to-day such as going shopping or browsing the internet. I would certainly recommend watching it. The object of enquiry in the film is goshawks and although never seen they feel tangibly present throughout.