Rock Sparrow

Rock Sparrow showing the characteristic yellow throat spot, Montsonis Village, Catalonia Spring 2014,

Italian Sparrow, Northrepps, Norfolk.

The Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae), also known as the Cisalpine Sparrow, is a passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in Italy and other parts of the Mediterranean region. In appearance, it is intermediate between the House Sparrow, and the Spanish Sparrow, a species of the Mediterranean and Central Asia closely related to the House Sparrow. The Italian Sparrow occurs in northern Italy and neighbouring regions, with intermediates with the House Sparrow in a very narrow contact zone in the Alps, a slow gradation in appearance from the Italian to Spanish Sparrows across central and southern Italy, and more birds of intermediate appearance in Malta, Crete, and other parts of the Mediterranean. There has been much debate on the origins and taxonomic status of the Italian Sparrow, especially given its possible hybrid origin. Some have classified it as a subspecies of House Sparrow, a subspecies of the Spanish Sparrow, or as a distinct species, a treatment followed if only for convenience by authorities such as the Handbook of the Birds of the World. A DNA analysis by Glenn-Peter Sætre and colleagues published in 2011 indicated an origin of the Italian Sparrow through hybridisation between the Spanish and House Sparrows, and Sætre and colleagues argued that given its origins and the limited extent of hybridisation, the treatment as a distinct species was supported

A Mega and a Rarity in Hants.

Male Spanish Sparrow. We were lucky to have such views of this mobile sparrow even though it persisted on being on the wrong side of the feeder!
The theory is that it has been in Calshot, Hants for some time because of a number of hybrids which resemble both  House and Spanish Sparrow.

Being in the area we spent an hour or so before locating this rare Black-eyed Junco.
Hawshill Inclosure, New Forest , Hants. 

Visit to St Margaret's Church, Cley, Norfolk

White-crowned Sparrow immortalised in a stained-glass West window in Cley's Church.

The day began with a trip to Norfolk to see a Semi-palmated Sandpiper which we had previously 'seen' but at a vast distance. The visit  was to 'confirm' our tick and also to appreciate the the finer ID points.

On interrogating the Internet ,during our journey, to find out if any other interesting species were around we noticed that the Semi P had been potentially upgraded to the Megaspecies-----a Western Sandpiper.

The 'new' bird was duly observed at Cley Marshes.

An ordinary birding day was therefore transformed to a Congratulatory Mega day.

In thanks for this transformation we decided to visit St Margaret's church in Cley  to offer our Gratitude to the Great Ornithologist in the Heavens for sending us this rarity.

Whilst in the church we hunted for and eventually found ( the sign of persistent birders) the small painting of the rare White -crowned Sparrow which visted Cley from North America in January 2008 and which was reponsible for donations in excess of £ 6,300 which was used for the 13th century church's West window restoration

Tree Sparrow, Hungary

Tree Sparrows

Hortobagy  National  Park, Hungary

White-throated Sparrow in Hants at Old Winchester Hill

First Summer Male

A six hour round trip secured this rare American vagrant. Although good brief views were had most of its time was spent foraging in the dense undergrowth.

Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow at Rutland Water on 14th Sept 2007

Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow at Ouse Washes, Cambs