David and I went again to Hampshire this week for the Spanish sparrow. We
left early and arrived just before dawn. The bird was in someone's garden. It
seemed too early on a Sunday morning to expect them to let people in so we went
first to the dark-eyed junko a few miles away. I put some seed down on a tree
stump a few metres away. Eventually, the junco landed nearby and climbed onto it to feed.
Good views were had by all!
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| Dark-eyed junco. An American bird |
After that we went to see the Spanish sparrow (which I had seen in Israel).
As luck would have it, the house-owners were both birdwatchers. We took our
shoes off and joined those already inside. I was able to sit by the patio doors
and soon the Spanish sparrow appeared. It seemed happy among the British sparrows
and had, apparently, bred with the locals. Remember that these pictures were
taken through double glazing.
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| Spanish sparrow (male) taken through double glazing. |
After that we went to Blashford lakes for the ferruginous duck and then to Wyke
Regis, Weymouth for Hume's leaf warbler. We dipped both again so the less said
about that the better. In compensation, it was nice to see redpoll, siskin and
goldfinch all on the same feeder at Blashford, and about 400 Mediterranean
gulls and a young kestrel at Wyke Regis.
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| Redpoll |
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| Song thrush |
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| Siskins (male) |
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| Kestrel - (male) |
Thanks, David, for your company.
