Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Birds - Tree Sparrow & House Sparrow Page 1

Image Taken on 08 Jan 2011 at 15:35 Image of day on 04 Mar 2011

A nice little montage of visitors to the hedge bottom over 20 minutes. The Tree Sparrow (2nd from left) has a leg ring off which we could read a couple of digits - if we find out more we will add it here.

Ref: 20110304_d45_20110108_1535_127+1543_133+155_138_fb1 bluetit + tree sparrow with leg ring + robin + great tit (adjusted montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 20 Apr 2009 at 06:01 Image of day on 15 May 2009

A house sparrow may not seem very exciting, but this is one of the first of several sightings this year. Only seen here once last year, and then not for years before.

Ref: 20090515_d35_20090420_0601_051 fb4 house sparrow & robin squabbling(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 09 Nov 2009 at 13:37 Image of day on 14 Dec 2009

Lets have a rave for the house sparrow in sad decline.
This is the first time we have recorded one at this feeding station outside the kitchen.

Ref: 20091214_d36_20091109_1337_012_fb3 house sparrow (1st time at this perch)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 27 Mar 2012 at 11:05 Image of day on 24 Apr 2012

This House Sparrow was first spotted having an altercation with a Tit near the hole in the roof used by the Starlings. We hope this declining species will nest somewhere here.

Ref: 20120424_df1_20120327_1105_029 house sparrow after leaving area of roof nest hole (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 14 Mar 2008 at 13:39 Image of day on 05 Apr 2008

For 17 years here we have hardly seen a House sparrow (though Tree Sparrows breed freely). Suddenly a Great tit (hole size) nest box on the dead elm stump is being investigated by a male House sparrow. He can only just squeeze in and out, and other potential occupants were lurking. Here a Tree sparrow has just made a hesitant flight by the House sparrow at the hole.

Ref: 20080405_d01_20080314_1339_028 house sparrow male at great tit nest box 4 of 7 with tree sparrow flying by(r+mb id@600).jpg

Image Taken on 01 Jun 2011 at 12:03 Image of day on 08 Jul 2011

Tree sparrows are breeding well here. We will be watching the effect on this as the surrounding farm is converted to arable.

Ref: 20110708_dc1_20110601_1203_018 tree sparrow(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image of day on 19 Jul 2005

Portrait of a Tree Sparrow.

Ref: 20050719_d3e_18131 fb1 tree sparrow 2005jun17_19-14-46(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 16 Nov 2011 at 11:33 Image of day on 28 Dec 2011

After a several months absence the Tree Sparrows have returned. First seen on a feeder they now seem to have commandeered this Great Tit box. We can see here that a Great Tit isn't pleased but didn't manage to shoo them away. At the moment the birds are only 'prospecting' and looking for winter shelter, but we often get 2 pairs breeding here in Great Tit nestboxes, sometimes including this one. They are rare birds (RSPB Red status) so especially welcome

Ref: 20111228_dc1_20111116_1133_038 2 tree sparrow at nest box on elm post interfered with by great tit (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 16 Nov 2011 at 11:34 Image of day on 28 Dec 2011

A later view with one of the Tree Sparrows exiting the box while the other continues preening.

Ref: 20111228_dc1_20111116_1134_063 2 tree sparrow at nest box on elm post with one leaving box (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 16 Mar 2012 at 12:46 Image of day on 24 Apr 2012

One of our Tree Sparrows elegantly descending to the perch

Ref: 20120424_d3b_20120316_1246_045_fb3 tree sparrow dropping down to perch (adjusted crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image of day on 19 Feb 2005

Most of the bird boxes are now being 'inspected'. On 20 feb 2000 this tree sparrow was checking out a nest box on what was then a living elm, now sadly a pole for the same nest box - this is the one that got 'modified' by the woodpeckers.

Ref: 20050219_mvc1263x tree sparrow in elm nest box(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image of day on 29 May 2005

Tree Sparrows are nesting in a 'great-tit box' on the island to the main pond.

Ref: 20050529_d10_01864 tree sparrow on flight to nestbox 2005may22_12-28-54(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 11 Feb 2012 at 16:14 Image of day on 13 Mar 2012

We rarely see Tree Sparrows at either ground level site. Snow changes a lot of behaviour.

Ref: 20120313_d45_20120211_1614_149_fb1 tree sparrow on snow covered ground(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 11 Feb 2012 at 16:42 Image of day on 13 Mar 2012

Ref: 20120313_d45_20120211_1642_159_fb1 tree sparrow on stone against snow (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image of day on 19 Jun 2005

This young tree sparrow is one of dozens raised this year. You can see the yellow 'gape' at the edge of the slightly open beak is still there to keep the parents feeding it.

Ref: 20050619_d3e_17784 fb1 young tree sparrow on the ground 2005jun13_19-10-12(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image of day on 07 Mar 2005

Tree sparrows (distinguished from House sparrows by the dark patch on the cheek) breed here in boxes designed for tits. On the other hand we hardly ever see house sparrows.

Ref: 20050307_d3e_11713 fb1 tree sparrow pair 2005mar03_16-34-20(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image of day on 06 May 2005

Although we already have about 10 new tree sparrows, a pair have just started taking nesting material into a (notionally) great tit box on the island of the main pond.

Ref: 20050506_d10_01784 tree sparrow taking nesting material into box 2005may04_16-06-06(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 01 Apr 2010 at 16:44 Image of day on 02 May 2010

3 Little tree sparrows queuing in an orderly fashion for the nut feeder. The one on the left is just taking off towards the food. These are NOT the ordinary (but declining) house sparrow but the rarer tree sparrow with dark patch on the cheek. To our delight they breed freely here undoubtedly helped by the accessible peanuts food supplement.

Ref: 20100502_d3b_20100401_1644_026_fb3 3 tree sparrows(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 11 Mar 2009 at 14:58 Image of day on 31 Mar 2009

New camera setup in trial brought us a regular sight for us but not often included in these pages because they rarely frequent the ground level sites. These are Tree Sparrows - an endangered species we are delighted to have breeding profusely on our little patch. Genuine single exposure - all 'one peck apart'.

Ref: 20090331_d50_20090311_1458_025 fb3 4 tree sparrows(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image of day on 28 Apr 2005

This year a family of Tree sparrows contains at least 4 youngsters. Here 3 of them are tucking into the mixed corn in late afternoon.

Ref: 20050428_d3e_15133 fb1 3 young tree sparrows 2005apr26_16-59-42(r+mb id@576).jpg

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