House Sparrow life histories

Two days ago, as it was raining heavily all afternoon, I heard lots of House Sparrows in our back garden. There were many adults with their youngs present. Since it had been like three months that I had been reading off colourrings from my House Sparrows I figured it was about time again to do some colourring checking! The result was pretty satisfying. During one hour of watching the House Sparrows I read off 7 different colourrings (well one was only a metal ring), but there were still so many unringed adults present. Next to many House Sparrows there were also young Great Tits, Dunnocks (including the one juvenile I ringed last week) plus a cute mouse.

 Juvenile Dunnock (Prunella modelaris)

 On the left female House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) ringed on 18-05-2011, since then seen on 16-02-2012 and 04-06-2012. On the right, male House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), ringed on 07-11-2011, 04-06-2012 was the first time I saw this one again!

 Male House Sparrow, ringed on 18-01-2012, 04-06-2012 was the first time I saw this one in my garden again.

 This male House Sparrow, ringed on 20-03-2011 when I wasn't in the possession of colourrings yet. The ring however was easy to read, since I only needed the last two digits.

And this sight of young and adults always pleases me:)

And I almost forgot to place a photo of the cute mouse!

Yesterday I headed out to my ringing site as I had to ring some Pied Flycatcher pullus. I ringed three broods of Pied Flycatchers and also one brood of Great Tits. In total 19 Pied Flycatchers and 8 Great Tits were ringed. 

 Nest of Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)

Pulli of Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)

Because House Sparrows are too mainstream

I ringed this clearly overweight individual this morning in my garden:

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)

Wing of the Wood Pigeon, >2cy

After the morning's session I set off to my ringing site on the Veluwe. It was great driving through the forests and hearing all the returned passerines. Activity everywhere! Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Redstarts, Pied Flycatchers, Song Thrush etc, everything was singing. In the more open areas Wood Larks and Yellowhammers were numerous, as well as a few singing Stonechats. All species of tits were active as well.

Great habitat to drive through in this season!

 Radio Kootwijk, with the cathedral in the back.

Hoog Buurlo

At my ringing site I checked a few nestboxes that have been hung there. Quite a few were occupied. In one nest I already found few days old chicks (1 day old?) of Great Tits.