Tree Sparrow in a Hawthorn hedge.

cool photo - we have hawthorn too - they make some noise in there

Worth the wait, Muddy... :)

Awe how lovely great photo Mark.

Thanks folks. Hawthorn is such a good wildlife plant.

Well it was certainly worth the wait, great picture;0)

Thanks Carole, must say I was glad of a sit down when I got home - the old back had stiffened up!

Shame about the back but you desrve a sit down for all your patience;0)

I like this,Muddy..that is where our family of Sparrows spend all their time too..lots of berries on this year as well...

Thank you ladies. :-)

What a brilliant shot, and definitely worth the wait, Muddy! This is stunning!

Thank you Flori. :-)

Dont see any of these Muddy, just House sparrows..always hoping of course..do you live in the country?

Hi Tet, no, I live in the town, but this photo was taken 11 miles away at Martin Mere Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve (my second home . . lol!).
I've lived in this house 3 years and only ever seen ONE House Sparrow in my garden . . and it only stayed around for two days! A bit of a rarity these days unfortunately.

We have seen our sparrow population explode in the last 10 years (since we started feeding birds). We very rarely have less than 50 in the garden for most of the day (they have a siesta around 12 noon!) and we have blue,great,coal and longtailed tits, blackbirds, robin, wrens, blackcaps, bull, green and goldfinches,warblers, magpies, and dove/woodpigeons too. Occasional visits from Sparrowhawk, jay, woodpecker, red-legged partridge and we hear, tho dont see, a green woodpecker. Not so welcome are our rooftop visitors, seagulls and crows!
The chiff chaff is our latest regular visitor, tho we have heard them in the copse in the summer.
We have been on many woodland walks and lots of stately home gardens but have never seen as many birds as we have here. Mind you, Harewood is fantastic for Red Kites.

So that's where all the House Sparrows have disappeared to . . your garden! That's an impressive garden bird list Tet. One can but dream . . . :-)

Well it didnt happen overnight..and it is a costly exercise, OH spends his weekly pocket money on bird food!! He fills 6 seed feeders a day plus 2 fatball holders (3 in each) twice a day, and peanuts once a week. In the winter we go thru a pot of mealworms each week.

You're telling me you spend all that money on birdfood . . . and then you and your Hubby have to eat Mealworms! That's awful!!!!! . . lol . . tee hee! ;-))

LOL! Best laugh Ive had all week!! Oh Muddy how DID you not laugh your socks off! Oh yukkk (must update my shopping list...)

Great photo. Very optimistic. Congratulation.