White crowned sparrows

Clareb · #1 (**permalink**) 01-09-2011, 07:45 AM

When I opened the curtains this morning, my front garden was covered in these sparrows. I don't know lots about birds but knew that I had never seen these before so looked them up on my iPhone. They were very smart looking little things and stayed for a while so I had the time to be certain of what they were. The details I found online said that they are a common American bird so I have to wonder, what are they doing here? Could anyone shed some light on this for me please? I'm near Worksop in Nottinghamshire

Deb London · #2 (**permalink**) 01-09-2011, 07:56 AM

Are you a member of one of the rare bird alert sites? You can sometimes join for free, or see limited information without being a member. If it were me and I was sure about what I'd seen, I'd go to one of these and report my sighting there. Although I assume that they will need photographic evidence.

Wild-Woman · #3 (**permalink**) 01-09-2011, 07:59 AM

Hello Clare. Sometimes it is easy to mistake birds and wonder whether what you saw were goldfinches. There's only been 2 WC Sparrows as I recall seen 2003 and 2008 in Britain and Ireland. Did you manage to get any pictures?
Welcome to WAB by the way.

Clareb · #4 (**permalink**) 01-09-2011, 08:09 AM

I did take some pictures but they came out badly, taken through the window with the sun reflecting sadly. I'm 100% positive on what they were as there were a lot of them and they were there for long enough for me to spend time looking it up and check close matches too. The sites I found them on said they were common and not rare though or I would have gone outside in my dressing gown and got some better pictures.

eunatural · #5 (**permalink**) 01-09-2011, 08:27 AM

Probably not White crowned. These are very rare vagrants from USA. I expect they could be moulting House Sparrows but would like to see a pic to be sure.

Tursiops2 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-09-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clareb

The sites I found them on said they were common and not rare though or I would have gone outside in my dressing gown and got some better pictures.

Common in the USA, perhaps, but certainly not in the UK, and a flock would be totally unprecedented.

It's extremely unlikely that these are White-crowned Sparrows, but if they are, prepare yourself for scenes like this in your garden: Hartlepool White-throated Robin Twitch - YouTube

T2

diggleken · #7 (**permalink**) 01-09-2011, 10:06 AM

Hi Clare, as has been said, this is virtually impossible for a flock of such rare vagrants to be here as a flock.
The male has a black and white stripy head, did you clearly see that?
Oh, and they are generally from the west and Alaska, so before crossing the atlantic, even if hitching aride, they would probably have had to travel a few thousand miles across the plains etc...............
Can you describe them , beak shape, outstanding colouration. size etc etc - and a pic even if fuzzy, the 'jizz' from that can help, oh and behaviour too.
I hope youre not too disappointed in these responses, but there are many experienced birders on here, who will try and help.
Cheers
Ken