Italian Sparrow...

It has to be said, I was in no great hurry to see this bird. It's been hanging around the same gardens in East Budleigh since mid November and when you know it's being described as a 'possible Italian Sparrow or hybrid' it's hard to find the incentive to go and have a look. Even though it's only 28 miles away I put off trying to see it, until today. Fellow birder Dave Helliar felt likewise but today we thought we'd make the effort to catch up with it and take a look for ourselves.

I have to say, this is not the 'easy' bird that we thought it would be. It's been visiting garden feeders in Cadbury Gardens (which the friendly lady owner has kept topped up for the bird) for the last couple of months. Almost exactly two hours after we arrived, it appeared. It looked at the feeders...and then left!  Everyone present had great views for about 15 seconds and I managed 6 seconds of video footage. Video grab below.

Possible Italian Sparrow, male: East Budleigh, Devon: R.Harris

It looks good to me, like any other Italian Sparrow I've ever seen, but whether it actually is or will ever be accepted as such is another matter. It could easily be a hybrid. It may have been easier to see early on in its stay but it seems to show every 2-3 hours now and certainly not for long. But then, it is heading into Spring and it probably has other things on its mind...

I would also like to thank to people who live in Cadbury Gardens - they are a very tolerant lot. Having an almost constant trickle of birders and photographers pointing optics in the general direction of your living room window, can't be easy and yet they have obliged our interest and allowed us to spend time watching and waiting for the bird to appear. What a great bunch of people!