Oh dear. This is ridiculous but I'm sure this isn't one of my sparrows. If it is, it doesn't look very well!
The photo isn't good as it was pouring with rain and taken from a window.
Cheers, Linda.
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Hi sparrow
Poor thing, it looks very bedraggled. Yes, it's a reed bunting alright. I would say a male still in winter plumage.
It's a miserable day down here in the south as well. Fine rain but at least it's not cold.
TJ
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Tony
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Sparrow how do you do it, well done on getting one of those in your garden. I'm feeling a bit more chipper again now, my two greenfinch actually came back again, I couldn't believe it, they came back a few times yesterday, eating the sunflower hearts I suspect from the seed mix I put out for the pigeons, do any other of your finches eat the nyjer seed, as mine is sitting there untouched I was wondering how long it will last in the feeder before I ought to think about chucking it away.
There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.
Hi Sparrow
Lovely picture of the Reed Bunting {I only dream of having one of those on my feeders)
Wonder why the poor thing looks so unhappy.
I am sure birds are affected by the wet weather too like we humans are.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Susan H said: Oh dear. This is ridiculous but I'm sure this isn't one of my sparrows. If it is, it doesn't look very well! The photo isn't good as it was pouring with rain and taken from a window.
Well done for getting a reed bunting on your tub cake feeder. I've never seen one!
You're getting so many unusual birds. The BTO will be sending birders round to your address as a special place of interest.
Best wishes Chris
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Hi Sparrow,
well done on getting another new bird for your garden list!
As the others have already ID the bird nothing else to say!
The bird looks pretty normal to me, a male starting to get his full summer plumage!
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
A big thank you to TJ, Buzzard and everyone. Needless to say I am delighted to add him to my list. I almost missed him, but when he landed on the tub cake, thinking he was a sparrow, I was very surprised because no sparrow has used it previously. Then I realised he was a bit brighter coloured and saw his black head, so out came the camera!
After looking at all my photos more carefully, one I took a minute or two earlier of "a sparrow in the conifer" now looks like it could be him before he landed on the tub cake. What do you think? Again the photo is a bad one due to a combination of the photographer and the weather.
Hi Bishy,
Brilliant your greenfinches came back again. I've just been through all my greenfinch photos, and on every one they are on the sunflower hearts, not the nyjer. The only photos I have of birds on the nyjer are the goldfinches and siskins.
I wouldn't throw it away. The seed is well protected inside the feeders as it doesn't get wet. I top mine up before the feeders get empty, so the seed at the bottom is probably quite old. In any case, waste not want not ... if you decide to change it you can re-use the old seed in suet mixes and put it on your table or in coconuts. No need to throw it away.
Susan H said:After looking at all my photos more carefully, one I took a minute or two earlier of "a sparrow in the conifer" now looks like it could be him before he landed on the tub cake. What do you think? Again the photo is a bad one due to a combination of the photographer and the weather.
Yes,it looks like the same rather bedraggled looking bird. He keeps looking up at the sky hoping the rain will stop.
Great photos Sparrow. Your list is certainly growing fast. I am sure word has got around that they get good food and a photo-shoot at your place!
[wave] TJ, your last comment made me chuckle as my wagtails kept looking skywards back in January every time it started snowing again!
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Thanks and LOL TJ.
I should have said that above the bunting's head in both photos is the top of a fence where a starling was perched looking at the feeder. I think the bunting was watching and waiting to see what it did.