Country diary: who killed our blackbird? The sparrowhawk has form in this area

Comins Coch, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: The drift of pale feathers drew my eye, evidence of the rural food chain in actionI found the remains of the blackbird on the strip of rough grass between the hedge and a group of small holly trees. The drift of pale feathers drew my eye first, left in a generous arc where they had fallen after being plucked from the body. Apart from the tail, legs and sternum, little remained of the bird itself, a small adult female, possibly one of those raised in the same