10/04/2021 Barcombe Cross, East Sussex

White-throated Sparrow: Question: when does a sparrow excite more birdwatchers than an eagle would? Answer: when it's a white-crowned sparrow from the United States, hopping around and old allotment in East Sussex. 

 

I think this bird has been in the area for some time now,  perhaps the precise location was suppressed during the height of lockdown? Who knows, either way I was thrilled to have seen it. And thankful to the folks who relocated it and put the news out. 

The white-throated sparrow which normally lives in parts of North America and Canada was found in close to an allotment in Barcombe. There have only been a handful of sightings in the UK over the years.

They are great birds, I've seen them in Central Park and Bryant Park in New York, but this was my first UK bird. They are attractive little birds with their white eyestripe bordered by a yellow patch between the eye and the bill. 

We arrived really early, just after fisrt light and the bird was nowhere to be seen but with a little patience that bird came flying across the woodland edge and landed on the picnic table to feed. 

It then moved to the nearby coppiced area and we were treated to brilliant views of the bird singing.  

The bird was pretty loyal to one particular area although it does wonder further at atimes. Towards the west end of the allotments there is a decked area that is home to a picnic table and this is where the bird frequently comes to.

A proper good bird in the bag!