While birding in Freiston Shore RSPB reserve, Lincolnshire last month I came across a small flock of House Sparrow with a few Tree Sparrow in it. I have to admit at expressing surprise at seeing them together, so maybe this is a limited thing as Phil suggests.
However I do recall learning to tell the difference between the two species as a child, by comparing them against each other in my Fathers back garden in Stockton Heath. That was before the Tree Sparrow numbers crashed in the late seventies/early eighties. Perhaps Tree Sparrows have behaved differently post-population crash. I throw this out as a topic for discussion rather than from any scientific basis as it is purely anecdotal.
I've often wondered at Martin Mere, why you see good numbers of Tree Sparrows but no House Sparrows. What with all the free food. Do the two species ever mix? Obviously they do but in a limited way perhaps.
Hi John,
If it's of interest to you...Tree Sparrows used to a fairly common sighting at Styal Woods not far from you, but I'm going back to the 70's and 80's when Dad used to take us to various places where he knew certain species were from his birding days. That said however, Tree Sparrow numbers have declined heavily over the years, but there probably is a population around that area still, and I wouldn't think it was too unusual to get one in Hale.
A quick check reveals a few sightings in nearby areas too...
Of note...
On the forum June 2011 Dave Cropper 2 Tree Sparrows on Sinderland Road near Altrincham sewage works
A Defra and Natural England article July 2011 regarding bird species at Dairy House Farm near Altrincham includes Tree Sparrows
and linked to the forum again is Henry Cook's New Years Day list from last year when he had Tree Sparrow at Dunham Massey.
