A keen photographer was perfectly placed as a dramatic scene unfolded before him.

Matthew Cornish, a budding nature photographer, was spending the weekend at home in Hellesdon when he looked out of the window just in time to spot a sparrowhawk swooping down to make his kill.  

Norwich Evening News: Matthew managed to capture the bird of prey in action Matthew managed to capture the bird of prey in action (Image: Matthew Cornish)

He said: “There are a lot of pigeons in the area so we have been lucky to spot a fair few birds of prey looking for a meal.  

“But I’ve never had a camera near me, I’ve heard a thud and spotted a bird of prey flying off with a pigeon – so this was very exciting.” 

The sparrowhawk grabbed the pigeon and took it to the ground right outside Matthews' house, in Burnham Road.

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Norwich Evening News: He has seen birds of prey in the area but never been able to photograph them in time He has seen birds of prey in the area but never been able to photograph them in time (Image: Matthew Cornish)

He said: “I was more excited than the kids were, It was like I was a child.” 

Matthew was pleased to finally get the chance to photograph the bird in all its glory and tick it off of his list.  

“I knew I hadn’t photographed this type of bird before and I like to collect them like Pokemon," he added.  

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Norwich Evening News: The sparrowhawk flew off with it's kill shortly after trapping it The sparrowhawk flew off with it's kill shortly after trapping it (Image: Matthew Cornish)

“So adding a Sparrowhawk in the middle of a kill to my collection is really quite exciting.” 

Female sparrowhawks are the larger of the species and can have a wingspan of up to 70cms, with around 30,000 breeding pairs in the UK annually.

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Norwich Evening News: Neighbours watched in disbelief Neighbours watched in disbelief (Image: Matthew Cornish)

Matthew has in the past photographed buzzards, kestrels, red kites, herons and marsh harriers as well as egrets and barn owls.  

He has even snapped a peregrine falcon, bittern and kingfisher so being able to add a sparrowhawk to the collection was a big deal for him.

Matthew said: “I try to take my camera everywhere I go, as in Norfolk you can always see something happening in nature, it’s just very rare to capture it like this.”