Yesterday, this stunning sparrowhawk landed on the shed roof. Sparrowhawks are quite small compared to other birds of prey and we had wondered whether it was a kestrel, but as it took off and flew over the valley, its proportionately long tail gave it away. And on closer inspection of the photo, we could see the distinctive barring across its breast. Sparrowhawks are generally grey as well, with yellow legs and eyes.
I have just read that males tend to have an orange cast to their barring and orange shading on their cheeks, so I think this might be a male, as there is a hint of orange on his cheek.
Sparrowhawks are stealthy hunters and manoeuvring swiftly and skilfully over hedges and round bushes and trees to catch smaller birds by surprise. They are as much at home in a garden as in the countryside and I have been surprised, whilst walking along a pavement, as a flurry of air alerts me to the rush of a sparrowhawk through a suburban front garden.