When I got back from picking up my shopping this evening, I found a sparrowhawk sitting at the end of my drive. I stopped by the side of the road but I think I was too close and it took off, leaving its dinner behind. The dinner in question turned out to be a pigeon with a ring round its leg – a knock on the pigeon-keeping neighbour’s door confirmed it was one of his.

Unexpected and rather marvellous to remember that birds like the sparrowhawk are still around although rarely seen in this neighbourhood.