SYDNEY the short-sighted sparrowhawk was in for a rude awakening when he tried to make an early-morning flying visit to John Cruise's home in Burnley Road, Blackburn.

The hapless harrier failed to spot the double-glazed window at the back of John's home -- and dropped in with a bump.

After being grounded for about an hour the bird of prey recovered his wings and took to the air, much to John's relief. "It really hit the window with a bang and I was worried that he had done himself some serious harm," said John.

" Because it is a through lounge, we quite often gets smaller birds flying into the back window but nothing as big as this."

Sydney hid himself under a hedge while he recovered his wits and, after posing for our photographer, flew off, apparently none the worse for his exploits.