lurchergrrl 1,441 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 These little lovelies are living in my neighbours hedge. They were cutting the hedge last night when the nest was spotted. All hedge trimming has stopped and now my neighbours have a rather comical looking bushy tower at the end of the hedge where the nest is Neighbour says he reckons they're hedge sparrows? Any thoughts as to how old they might be? I'm hoping to photograph them every day as they grow They've certainly got big gobs! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ghillies 209 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 they look awful greedy lol..nice pics but i cant tell without the adult. (it's me age luv lol) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J Darcy 5,871 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 I can tell you they are...I'm 100%. The throat markings are a dead give away...did they have a couple of little black dots too on their gape (inside mouth)? Nice birds...shy, but they have a very interesting sex life, and rewarding to observe closely.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lurchergrrl 1,441 Posted June 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Dunno Darcy, I'll have a closer look when I next peep in at them. Do you think they'll be disturbed now and the mother won't come back? They're well inside the hedge so not exposed, but a few people have said they think the birds will die Leave it up to you to think of a bird's sex life as 'interesting' Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rolfe 2 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Terrific pictures (4th one down is a cracker)....As an interesting point the "Hedge Sparrow" is also known as a "Dunnock".......and a "Hedge Accentor". Is there another English garden bird with more names???.....cant think of one. Rolfe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J Darcy 5,871 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Lurchergrrl...don't worry...she wont desert them.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GAZCO 0 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Excellent pictures thanks for sharing Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nighttimenellie 4 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 I can tell you they are...I'm 100%.The throat markings are a dead give away...did they have a couple of little black dots too on their gape (inside mouth)? Nice birds...shy, but they have a very interesting sex life, and rewarding to observe closely.. Fourth pic down thrid chick in looks like a black dot inside the mouth, or did you mean right on the gape, if you spotted them at that age thats mighty impressive, most folk couldnt tell their sparrows appart never mind spotting young uns, nice one Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J Darcy 5,871 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 I can tell you they are...I'm 100%.The throat markings are a dead give away...did they have a couple of little black dots too on their gape (inside mouth)? Nice birds...shy, but they have a very interesting sex life, and rewarding to observe closely.. Fourth pic down thrid chick in looks like a black dot inside the mouth, or did you mean right on the gape, if you spotted them at that age thats mighty impressive, most folk couldnt tell their sparrows appart never mind spotting young uns, nice one yes, but both house and tree sparrow would never nest in that place or have a nest like that i should think mate. their young are totaly different too.... as is the colour of the gape. That bright orange is unmistakable.... mind you..its not acually a sparrow anyway!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lurchergrrl 1,441 Posted June 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Just a little update .... the chicks are all coming along nicely. I've been spotted I'll post on here to update as they develop. Sorry I don't have a better camera for the pictures tho. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J Darcy 5,871 Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 I'm glad to hear they are doing ok. Mrs Dunnock will probably have another brood too once they have fledged.....I should imagine they will wave you goodbye late next week.....My guess is thursday when they will say goodbye... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lurchergrrl 1,441 Posted June 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 That quickly?? How old do you reckon they are now then? And would she use the same nest? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J Darcy 5,871 Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Not being an expert or anything, but i reckon they are now 7 days old. So i am guessing 13 days and they will jump, that being thursday next week. I doubt if she would uuse the same nest, i have not known it in the wild, however, i have had it happen to me when i kept them in captivity, but it was re-lined with fur. What is easy to forget is that often the act of nest building is part of the whole courtship routine in itself and egg production is linked to it.... Be careful disturbing them after next wednesday i would sya...and keep those sodding cats and maggies away!!! lol.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lurchergrrl 1,441 Posted June 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Very exciting, thanks Mr D I'll be careful about disturbing them as next week progresses. If she doesn't use the nest again, would it be awful of me to remove it? Or would someone else make use of it at a later date? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
J Darcy 5,871 Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 lurchergrrl....Now i am not in any way an expert on the law, but i think that actually disturbing the "nest" even when finished in the breeding requirements may be construed as being illegal. Be aware also that old nests have various creepy crawlies in them and some of them aint nice...... Personally i would leave it in situ....now if you could have seen her eggs, they are something else.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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