Samuel Gurney, of Higher Knowle, Aveton Gifford, writes: With reference to your recent request regarding the ­unidentified bird of prey in the Chillington garden, Fanny Earle should not be surprised by the abrupt departure of her garden passerines. The sparrowhawk is the one raptor with the audacity to attempt to seize its prey at their garden feeding tables and baths. The fine brown bars to the breast would indicate that this is an adult female, much larger than the thrush-sized male and capable of taking a pigeon. In the words of our great ­naturalist poet John Clare: 'Their very shadow seems to feel a fear.'