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Kestrel is probably the most likely, they're pretty common here in essex. I'd guess either that or a peregrine.
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Kestrels are small, as are male sparrowhawks. You almost certainly saw a female sparrowhawk. Peregrines consider pigeons to be an easy lunch, to give an idea of comparative size. Peregrines are slightly less common than an available black cab in a thunderstorm in London.
Colonel_of_Truth
ColinTheBald
Constable_Savage
@hoefla
I saw a small bird of prey in east london last week, at the top of a tree by the river. It was grey and had hooked wings. I thought it might be a sparrowhawk but internet says they are quite small. This was just larger than a wood pigeon and perched upright. I'd like to think I'd have recognised a peregrine, and also I think they tend to hang out much higher up. Any ideas?