Monday 5 October 2009

Tree Sparrows Visit the Feeders

I didn't think there would be anything worth mentioning today. Hedge trimming, weeding, generally pottering about. I have lost one Goldfinch to some predator or other. I didn't see what but saw the evidence. Whether the local killer black cat or a raptor I am not sure but I incline to the cat at the moment.

Just went through to make a cup of coffee when I saw what at first I thought was a House Sparrow with different markings. Grabbing the camera I took a few shots before it disappeared as all the birds are very skittish at the moment. It wasn't until I examined the photos and had a look in my books that I found out what I had seen was a Tree Sparrow. In fact there had been two but I was concentrating so hard on the first one I saw I missed seeing the other.

Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrows

Tree Sparrows

 What had caught my eye was the black cheek spot and the brown head. The slight yellow on the beak was only noticeable on the photographs.

Just checked again and they are back. There were at least three and possibly four. Two stayed long enough to capture a piece of video - with plenty of Goldfinch squabbling in the background!



According to my trusty 'Collins Complete Guide to British Birds' the Tree Sparrow has a restricted and shrinking range which seems to be mainly down the east side of the UK. It is occasionally found on the outskirts of villages  but is more commonly associated with untidy arable farms. The population has suffered a catastrophic decline of more than 90 percent in recent decades. Lack of winter stubble fields and reduced numbers of weeds in crops have reduced its food stocks.

16 comments:

  1. Brilliant John, I'm inspired once again. Makes me wonder how they happen on feeders. I follow Abraham Lincoln and what he doesn't get on his fence isn't worth seeing.

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  2. Hi Adrian. According to 'Collins' Tree Sparrows may join up with House Sparrows and finches after the breeding season so possibly they followed the throng. Or maybe they came to investigate what all the noise from the Goldfinches was about :)

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  3. WOW! When I spotted that headline on my sidebar I can tell you there was an audible intake of breath! Well done John, you could easily have missed it from a distance by thinking it was a House Sparrow. I am thrilled for you and not a little envious ;) I haven't seen one since I was a child. Every time I see a Sparrow I hope it may be a Tree Sparrow but of course it never is, I wonder why they in particular declined so sharply, I strongly suspect it was modern farming practices! Great you managed to get photos.

    I was so excited and wanting to congratulate you that I didn't realise there was a video until I had written the above. Is that them twittering? I certainly don't recognize the sound.

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  4. CLANG!! Too excited for my own good, I should have recognizes the twittering of Goldfinches with the amount I get.

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  5. Hi Jan. I'm the one who is supposed to get excited :)

    I am trying to remember if they have visited before but I guess if my remaining grey cell is having a problem the answer is probably - no. I think I have glimpsed the odd one fleetingly when Bobby takes me for walkies.

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  6. Great shots John, see Tree Sparrows a lot at Old Moor but never in the garden here.

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  7. Wow, that is great John. Great to see they've found you. I really hope they keep coming in numbers like the Goldies. I used to see so many of these as a kid; but now I have to travel to see them.
    That's quite a wildlife reserve you've got going there. Well done.

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  8. Thanks Paul. I don't think I've seen them in the garden before now.

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  9. Hi Keith. I think if they come in numbers like the Goldies I will be looking for donations to feed them all :) The Tree Sparrows can tuck away a lot of food at a fast rate watching these few.

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  10. Congratulations John! That's great having Tree Sparrows.

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  11. I really love that second photo with oncoming sparrow. Great post!

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  12. Thanks Lynmiranda. It was quite a surprize.

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  13. Thanks Wilma. I didn't even know it was there until I loaded the photos on to the computer.

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  14. Thats amazing John, can you send some just down over the county border so that I can photograph them as I haven't seen any for a long time.

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  15. Don't think Lincolnshire has an export license for Tree Sparrows Roy :) Roy. I could cheerfully export some Goldies. They are getting out of hand.

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  16. Beautiful shots John....we have allot of tree sparrows here. They come to my feeders all the time...I love them allot.

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Thank you for visiting. Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Any comment, or correction to any information or identification I get wrong, is most welcome. John

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