Monday motivation

There’s nothing like capturing an image you have wanted to achieve all year, to provide a bit of Monday Motivation! I’ve spent a lot of time watching the house sparrows this summer, and seen my fair share of courtship and mating behaviour, but capturing that crucial moment has always proved illusive. The birds are often…

Scattered seeds

Whilst house sparrows have a highly varied diet from berries and insects to seeds and even table scraps, the majority of their diet consists of seeds and grain. They have a strong, stubby beak which enables them to break through the tough outer husks of seeds and reach the energy packed starch within. This female…

The secret lives of sparrows

During my daily ‘exercise’ (or rather, sitting down with camera poised), my aim over the past week has been to capture the daily antics of a rather overlooked bird, the humble house sparrow. Not spectacularly coloured or great songsters but fascinating in their own right, they have always one of my favourites British birds and…

Rain rain, go away

Winter in Wales brings the inevitable deluge of heavy rain which seems to last for weeks on end…I am rather fed up of the constant damp and drizzle and long for the return of Spring which can’t come soon enough! The birds don’t look too impressed either and I’m sure they would welcome some sunshine…

Among the brambles

Beside the harbour edge, atop a small grassy mound is a dense patch of brambles and bushes, home to a small flock of house sparrows. They can often be heard chirping noisily from within and emerge frequently to forage among the branches and to bathe in the water below. I have tried and failed to…

Sing your heart out

It is that time of year again when the air is filled with birdsong as territories are defended and there are potential mates to impress. Today a male house sparrow was making his presence felt, singing loudly from these railings with his wings lowered and quivering from the effort. The song of the house sparrow…

Feeding frenzy

With the breeding season now well under way the harbour is a hive of activity as many birds gather materials to maintain their nests, and collect food for their chicks concealed within. The house sparrows in particular have been visiting their favourite feeding sites like clockwork, as the parents try to keep up with the…

Juvenile House Sparrow

A combination of the summer warmth and tidal nutrients has caused a greening of the harbour edges. the ground is carpeted in a layer of bright green algae making the rocks slippery and treacherous underfoot. This bloom of vegetation seems very attractive to the house sparrows, with a small flock hopping about foraging for food….