I know what you mean about the birds erupting from hedgerows.....the blunderbus method of escape!! with the sparrowhawk right behind.... I see it quite often when out running.....rarely see the wee birds getting caught. It is a great sight to see.
As to how I caught it...........it was a Friday night in late AUgust and there were a few straggler swallows about in my byre. The S H had followed them in there and could not get out.....it was battering itself against the window. I went in and caught it but my camera was not charged and I had to let go.......with no pic
But, the very next morning it was back again.....exactly the same thing...flying against the window. I caught it again and this time the camera was ready.
Apparantly I am lucky its talons did not rip my hands open to the very bone!
Anyway, it is not often a fella can say he caught a sparrowhawk!!
the change of direction and subject does kind of show why the mods should not be TOO hard on those of us who tend to wander.....all that hats an' hawks an patriachs stuff would never have seen the light of day!
However, I do think that when you are joining, folk need to be aware of being too controversial. A new poster asked a simple request this week and got a rude reply back and then was questioned to within an inch of his life, including what football team he supported!!!!!! It wasn't as if he was signing up to son-in-law material so completely out of order. 
