Unusual bird on my bird table.

[RasputinDude]

It's the redness that makes me think male sparrowhawk

The RSPB: Sparrowhawk

[zeitghost]

looks like a Sh1te-Hawk to me

Nope.

No resemblance.

[zeitghost]

Not a kite.

I'd go for sparrowhawk.
Good image here Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris) » Planet of Birds

Might be that, but I thought it was a little bit bigger.

[Old Hack]

It's the redness that makes me think male sparrowhawk

The RSPB: Sparrowhawk

As toastie said, it's in the eyes. The Kestrl's eyes are not yellow in anyway, but it's lids are. The OP has black eyes, and yellow lids, and cojaks yellow and black eyes.

That's imo by the way.

Male Kestrel

Male Sparrowhawk

[zeitghost]

Probably more likely to see a Sparrowhawk than a Kestrel hunting for birds in gardens, and a male sparrowhawk (smaller than female) can resemble a Kestrel.
Easiest way to distinguish them without photographic evidence is the eye colour.
Yellow iris -> Sparrowhawk
All Black -> Kestrel

I'll try & remember that the next time.

It's the first time I've ever seen a hawk in my garden.

[zeitghost]

The assembled congregation is remembering that the photo in the OP isn't one I took, but rather is the closest I could find to something I saw for all of 15 seconds.

The bird in question was roughly the size of a pigeon.

[RasputinDude]

OK, the next time that you see it, take a shot with your trusty Holland & Holland and then post a photo of the remains and we'll be to identify it properly.

I must admit that I'm impressed that a flame war hasn't started yet, and that no-one's been called a cretin or been banned.

It's still early days I suppose.

[zeitghost]

I'm amazed it's got to 29 posts.

Though a lot of them are mine.

[Old Hack]

The assembled congregation is remembering that the photo in the OP isn't one I took, but rather is the closest I could find to something I saw for all of 15 seconds.

The bird in question was roughly the size of a pigeon.

Tricky that, as Kestrels are about the same size as Sparrowhawks, although female SH are the largest.

1) Female sparrowhawk
2) Female Kestrel
3) Male Kestrel
4) Male Sparrowhawk

Male Sparrowhawk's look similar to Kestrels, female SH's not so much, and are quite a bit larger. I'd call Cojak's as a female Sparrowhawk and your pic as a male Kestrel

[zeitghost]

It was the red plumage that was so impressive.

And the sheer speed of arrival & departure.