Re: A sparrowlet at last!

I was beginning to worry that the sparrowlets were staying in their nests a bit long, but one arrived late this afternoon in pouring rain and wind. Hoping for some more tomorrow. This little chap was being fed by mum and dad. I think he is a little boy as he has the white spot at the side of his eye.

Good to see you're getting some young at last Sparrow..he looks a handsome chap

He's a little beaut, Linda. Interesting photos, I didn't know about the white spot being indicative of a juvvy male sparrow.

They are fledging late up here too. I saw my first ones about four days ago and now the adults are taking apart the felt lining of a hanging basket in order to line their new nests!

Please don't take my word for him being a male - all I know is that adult males have the white spot but females don't, so I was just guessing really!

It's the jackdaws that take my basket linings, the starlings take my honeysuckle, and the sparrows take my tumble drier fluff!

First of many Linda, and at least they are a wee bit quieter thnan the Starlings LOL

Still a bit sparse on the ground - not like previous years. I hope the next lot of broods are more numerous. Not sure they make less noise Judi, just more tuneful! LOL.

i not sure if its the cornish weather but my sparrows are fledging their second brood already! the sparrows in my eves had 3 broods last year... ive got sparrows coming out of my ears... there everywhere ;-)

Hi Linda ,I am finding it just the same here ,normally we have at least 6-8 nests under the eaves and then about 5 nest boxes all with Sparrows ,but alas this year only two under the eaves and two nest-box's , the other nest-box's have been taken over by Great-tits and Blue-tits ,and I can't ever remember that happening before,but still have a healthy flock ,just don't think they have been breeding as normal, also they normally have two or three broods , I cannot fathom it out ,is it the up and down weather cycles we are getting? what do you think?

Regards Mick

FB - that sounds like my garden normally, but not this year. Normally mine have had 3 broods between May and August, with sparrowlets everywhere all summer. They don't nest in my garden, but in neighbouring properties that I can see from the windows.

This year I have just as many adults as normal - a nice healthy colony. Just not seeing the babies.

Mick, I have put this down to the variations in weather. Abnormally hot then abnormally wet and so on.

The adults are still collecting mealworms and flying off with them - so maybe they are just late, or maybe on their second brood after failing with their first lot.

Lovely pics. We had a poor year for sparrows alst year but this year has improved greatly and there has been quite a few young about in the garden.

Thanks Julia.

I'm pleased to read your sparrows have done better this year - like some of the other posters. Such wonderful and entertaining comics to watch in the garden, with cheerful chatter. Maybe it's just a blip with mine.

Here you go Sparrow you can have one of mine, he's just turned up, part of the second batch i've had.

Ooh babies, I am going to miss seeing the youngsters fledge at the stables :( Hopefully the swallows and Kestrels will hang on till I am up and about again.

Caroline in Jersey

Ooooo thank you Doggie! She is absolutely gorgeous and very newly fledged with that gape. Superb photos. Mine are too busy committing murder to produce babies! LOL.