It seems as though seeing a House Sparrow is now quite an event and worth a mention. Who would have thought it. As a child growing up you could never have imagined a time when they would be almost absent from your garden as they are now up and down the country. I am glad to say hat we do get them in and out of the garden from time top time but they are by no means common anymore. Today though we had a pair and the same yesterday.
Today’s weather was absolutely perfect for photography, hardly a cloud in the sky and really good light for photos. I do find though that the shadows caused by strong low winter sun can be a real problem to contend with and that was the case today. Every bird that I managed to photograph in the garden seemed to have the most important part of it’s anatomy hidden in the shadows. We had a “swarm” of Long-tailed Tits on the top feeders, I tried to get into the hide without disturbing them hoping that they would return to the feeders as soon as I got myself hidden away, but no they moved on not to return. The Blackcap showed himself and then was gone and as I sat in the hide waiting for that “prefect” shot a wren popped in to view really close, just couldn’t get it in focus before it scurried on about it’s business. I could have posted a slightly out of focus image here but what would have been the point of that. Goldfinches were around but they havn’t been in to the garden for a while……….. I wonder why? Sure they will be here soon and hopefully they may bring a Siskin with them, well we can dream can’t we? Last winter a Redpoll read about it here came in to the garden with a small flock of Greenfinches and this was without doubt the rarest bird we have had in the little garden to date.
So what is the photo of the day today,well the smart Cock Sparrow above. I am told that Sparrows have a large black bib in proportion with their status in the flock so what will happen when numbers are so low that they go around in ones and two?
Have a look on my PBase Galleries here for another Sparrow Photo and some more birds posted recently.