Melanistic Sparrow

Well it looks like a Sparrow, perhaps with a hint of Spanish Sparrow thrown in or possibly it was feeding whilst standing in blue ink. More likely it is a form of plumage aberration probably an excess of melanin pigment although the distribution with it affecting only the lower breast feathers looks a bit odd. Whatever the cause it had me checking bird identifications just to be sure. Sadly it is not a rarity.

Looking more like a House Sparrow in the second picture. The bird was seen, close to the feeders at the Pulborough Brooks Wildlife Meadow.

Have since seen a comment that the black belly feathers are caused by parasites eating away the feathers whilst the bird is still in the nest.

A mostly dull day on Monday found me exercising around Medmerry in the hope of seeing the White-fronted Geese. No luck there, although they were photographed by someone else as they were flying between the harbour and the reserve. There were hundreds of Brent geese feeding in the fields with large skeins of them flying over late afternoon as I assume they were heading in to roost. I didn't see my target but the exercise probably did me good and I now have the opportunity to go back and do it all over again.

Lots of birds seen although picture opportunities were limited. Some birds still worth recording and nice to be able to finish off with a really stunning Sanderling.

Black-tailed Godwits

Greenshank in glorious colour

Sanderling

Lets hope the white fronts stay on for a few more days.