Is This A Reed Bunting

I had this little chappie visit my garden this teatime so grabbed my camera and tried getting some decent photo's but because of the time of evening{after 5pm} and the fact I was trying to photograph through glass I can't get a clear photo.

Could this bird be a Reed Bunting or is he a Tree Sparrow?Mr Kandy and myself just can't quiet make up our minds so thought some experts might be able to help.Thanks



I have a few more photos I can put up but they are only slighty better than these.He wasn't interested in flying away,just desperate to feed on fallen seed

 

Hi , yes its a male reed bunting,

 

:thmb:Hi Vineman,Thanks for that.We couldn't make our minds up despite looking through our bird books as to whether it was the Tree Sparrow or the Reed Bunting.This is a first for this garden though back in the 80's one really cold winter we had seventeen visit one morning so it just shows how cold it must have been.Up until today we have never had one in the garden since that time:thumb:

 

It is an adult Male Reed Bunting these birds are migrating in great numbers for returning to Scandinavia I ringed 50 on the beach the other day. This may be a migrant or a local bird on his way to breeding grounds.

 

I am not surprised you weren't sure Kandy as they are not normally associated with gardens prefering river/lake sides and obviously reed beds.
I haven't seen them off the reserves here.

 

Hi Strongy,the photo below was taken after it flew up into one of our birch trees and looking at it,it does look like a Tree Sparrow but it was the moustache markings that made me think of Reed Bunting

We have no reed beds round near us only agriculture so I wonder it it is passing through.It came back this morning but a cat frightened it off and it hasn't been back since:p

Anyway,here is the photo....

 

Its always good to see a new bird in the gaden,:thumb: some Reed Buntings down here are resident as with Chiffchaffs and Cettis Warblers but as I said I only see RB's when walking through the reserves.

 

Hi Peri,

Hope you can see this post.I have found the one about the male Reed Bunting in our garden.Sorry that they are not brilliant photo's but had to take them through glass so that I didn't disturbe it too much...

 

Hi Peri,glad you like the little chap.I took loads of photos because he came every day for months and I was a bit worried that the cats would get him as he obviously had never experienced cats before and had no fear of them.When we went away for a holiday in July i put out lots of seed for all of the birds but by the time we had got back he had vanished so we are just hoping that he went back to where he belonged:D

In December about two years ago we had a male Blackcap feeding round our pyracantha shrub but as the light was starting to fade couldn't get a photo of him as i never had my fugi camera then.It was most unusual to see him as well

By the way we went out forr a drive last Sunday afternoon up past Fineshade woods and saw the Red Kites again.I was so busy trying to get one on photo that was up in the sky that I missed spotting one on the road further along and only saw it as it took off and flew over a fence:(