Monday, 19 October 2015

Tree Sparrow

You tend to hear Tree Sparrows before you see them. An incessant tuneless chirping that comes from within hedges, bushes and trees. I actually think they are a smashing little bird, and sadly one who's numbers are dwindling due to loss of habitat.
There were healthy enough numbers of them at Martin Mere the other week. They seem to do very well here, with lots of feed supplied and a wealth of places to forage and keep out of harms way.
Never easy to see more than a fleeting glimpse, but I was very patient once I'd heard the raucous noise coming from one particular tree. More than a dozen flew out and then back again, but only a couple popped their heads above the parapet.







at

22 comments:

  1. This N That19 October 2015 at 17:52

    Our Sparrows look somewhat different but are probably very similar..No shortage of them here.. Cute little birds..Great shots..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jo19 October 2015 at 19:18

    What a handsome bird this is, Adam. I love the yellow gape. Is this normal on an adult or is he still a juvenile? Thanks for sharing. Jo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adam Jones20 October 2015 at 09:08

      Hi Jo, the yellow gape is characteristic on both juvenile and adult birds. The juvenile bill starts off a little paler. Thanks for your comments :)

      Delete
  3. eileeninmd19 October 2015 at 19:43

    Great shots of the Tree Sparrow! They do look similar to our House Sparrows whihc are missing that black cheek spot. Enjoy your week!

    ReplyDelete
  4. mick20 October 2015 at 01:21

    Great photos of the Tree Sparrows. I have recently got a number of House Sparrows roosting in trees down my back yard - they are not usually found around here.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Breathtaking20 October 2015 at 06:51

    Hello Adam!:) Great captures! I like their cheerful chirping, and like you also think they are a cracking little bird. Hubby and I have some Englsh friends living in ClitheroeI and they ook us to Martin Mere twenty or so years ago, and we were impressed with what we saw there. It seemed an absolute haven for water birds, and we really enjoyed our visit.

    ReplyDelete
  6. NCSue20 October 2015 at 13:52

    Such a cute little fellow!
    Thanks for linking up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/10/beach-walk-at-sunrise.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. likeschocolate20 October 2015 at 14:27

    Pretty! What lens are you using?

    http://travelingbugwiththreeboys-kelleyn.blogspot.com/2015/10/out-and-about-in-city-atlanta.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adam Jones20 October 2015 at 14:32

      Hi, it's a Nikon FX 300mm f/4D IF ED AF-S. It also has a Nikon TC-14E AF-S Teleconverter III on it, which effectively makes the lens a 420mm. It's superb for getting me closer without too much bulk. :)

      Delete
  8. Anonymous20 October 2015 at 19:36

    This bird is so endearing in the third close up :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dianne20 October 2015 at 21:28

    such a cute little bird and how lovely to hear their chirping.

    ReplyDelete
  10. betty-NZ21 October 2015 at 04:37

    Sometimes, we tend to overlook the 'average' birds and don't appreciate them being around. Your photos are really well done.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Unknown21 October 2015 at 06:38

    Lovely photos of these cute little birds.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Margaret Birding For Pleasure21 October 2015 at 08:06

    Lovely hsots. These are only found in certain areas of N.Ireland

    ReplyDelete
  13. A Colorful World22 October 2015 at 02:30

    I agree...they are wonderful little birds! Great photos!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Phil Slade22 October 2015 at 13:18

    Your words and pictures summed up the Tree Sparrow Adam. Sometimes tricky to see and so off the radar of many folk. A real shame as they are an intriguing species. Nice pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  15. NatureFootstep23 October 2015 at 23:01

    a common bird where I live. I see and hear them every day. Mostly they sit in bushes.

    ReplyDelete
  16. eileeninmd24 October 2015 at 17:08

    Hi Adam, just stopping back to say thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Rambling Woods25 October 2015 at 22:19

    Yes, I have a noisy flock here now taking peanuts and sunflower chips from the feeders. They do move fast though.... Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  18. Stewart M26 October 2015 at 11:13

    These are a nice bird - there were good numbers of them at Bempton cliffs when I was there earlier in the year.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

    ReplyDelete
  19. EG CameraGirl26 October 2015 at 14:58

    Looks like the bird was posing for you!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Kenneth Cole Schneider26 October 2015 at 21:37

    I'd love to see a Tree Sparrow. They have appeared not far from our NE Illinois home, so I will keep looking when I go back when the weather is warm!

    ReplyDelete

I enjoy reading your comments as much as I enjoy taking the pictures. Thank you for taking the time to comment on my post.