This species was formerly known as Mountain Sparrow and was
not, it appears, specifically distinguished from House
Sparrow until 1713. The present name was coined by Pennant
in 1770 and came into general use in the early 19th century.
Some folk and historical names for Sparrow include; Spadger,
Sparrer, Spur, Spadgick and Sparr. It originates from the
Middle English word 'sparewe' to the Old English word 'sparwa'
and 'spearwa' of Germanic ancestry. Further back in time
there is reference to the Middle High German word 'sparwe'
and the Old Norse word 'spörr'.
Tree Sparrow has declined in S. Gloucestershire over the
last twenty-five years to almost extinction levels. The
British population of this species has fallen by 96% in the
same period and the impact locally is sadly reflected in
declining numbers. Early status of Tree Sparrow in S.
Gloucestershire shows that is was formerly resident and as a
nesting bird appeared to be common locally. Breeding records
come from Mangotsfield, Downend, Hambrook, Stoke Gifford,
Hallen, Tockington, Shepperdine and Oldbury on Severn.
2011: (3)
One was seen on the fence just north-east of Lagoon I at
Oldbury Power Station on September 3rd; Two were on show
near the 2nd sentry box on Northwick Warth at around 09:30
on October 22nd;
2010: (10)
A
party of ten were reported in the Dryham area in the first
week of January.
2009: (7)
Two were noted at Oldbury Power Station around Lagoon II on
April 8th; Five were seen heading north-east at New Passage
on September 12th.
2008: (1)
One was seen briefly at Northwick Warth target mound before
heading south towards New Passage on October 12th.
2007: (5)
On April 6th one was seen at Northwick Warth. It was the
first on Severnside for four years and the first in S.
Gloucestershire since October 2005; One was seen at New
Passage near the Severn Way footpath entrance at around
10:30 on April 12th; One was reported at Savage's Wood,
Bradley Stoke on April 22nd; Two were seen at Northwick
Warth on September 13th.
2005: (20)
On October 24th twenty were reported from the Marshfield
area near Harcombe Farm.
2004: (13)
On January 9th a flock of thirteen were noted on the
footpath north of Lagoon III at Oldbury Power Station.
2003: (16)
There were twelve at Oldbury Power Station on March 23rd;
One was seen at New Passage on February 23rd; Single birds
were reported from Severn Beach, Littleton-on-Severn and
Northwick Warth in the autumn.
2002: (max. 40)
In January and February a flock of forty were seen at
Littleton Warth; Breeding season reports come from Littleton
and Elberton but no proof of successful breeding.
2001: (4)
One was seen near Latteridge on January 19th; Three were
seen in flight at Northwick Warth on October 21st, one
northeast and two southwest.
2000: (Several)
There has been an enormous national decline of around 94% in
the population of Tree Sparrows between 1973 and 1998 which
has had a clear impact locally, records this year come from
just four sites. Nesting was proven and one was seen at
Oldbury Power Station on May 20th with other sightings at
Folly Farm near Latteridge, Marshfield and New Passage.
1999: (max. 32)
No breeding was recorded this year however sightings came
from Jobs Green Farm near Oldbury, Littleton-on-Severn,
Latteridge, Marshfield, New Passage, Oldbury Power Station,
Shepperdine and Winterbourne; Twenty-three were seen at
Latteridge on March 13th; Thirty-two were noted at Littleton
on August 22nd.
1998: (max. 25)
Birds were reported from Ingst, Jobs Green Farm near
Oldbury, Littleton-on-Severn, Marshfield, Oldbury on Severn
and Shepperdine; Breeding season reports come from Littleton
with a pair on May 17th and Shepperdine, a pair with a
juvenile on July 19th; Twenty were seen at a Chicken Farm
near Oldbury Power Station on July 16th; A flock of
twenty-five were seen at Littleton on the 20th September.
1997: (max. 30)
In January and March flocks of up to ten were seen at
Oldbury Power Station, two nests were found and ten were
seen on May 25th; Unconfirmed numbers were noted at
Littleton and a pair bred at Pilning; On July 24th thirty
were seen at Oldbury Power Station with seventeen here in
October; Fourteen were seen at Marshfield in September;
Others were noted at Downthorns Farm, Latteridge,
Shepperdine and Tormarton.
1996: (max. 31)
There were thirty-one noted at Littleton in September;
Twenty were seen between April and September at Oldbury
Power Station; Breeding season records came from Oldbury,
West Littleton and Doynton where breeding was confirmed.
1995: (max. 30)
A
flock of thirty were near Marshfield on January 11th; Groups
of up to twenty-five were seen at Oldbury Power Station and
Marshfield in the first quarter of the year; Breeding season
records come from Oldbury Power Station, Pucklechurch,
Marshfield, Dyrham and Doynton; Nine were seen at
Shepperdine on November 11th.
1994: (max. 40)
On March 19th a flock of forty were noted at Horton; A group
of four were seen at Marshfield in February and March; One
was found at Aust SW on April 30th; In November and December
small flocks were seen at Oldbury Power Station, Littleton,
Shepperdine and Marshfield.
1993: (max. 28)
A
flock of twenty were attracted to a garden in Winterbourne
during January and raise three broods in a nest box by
August 12th; Fledglings were reported from Iron Acton,
Hallen and Marshfield; Twenty-eight were seen at West
Littleton in the second winter period.
1990: (max. +20)
A
pair were seen at a nest box in Frenchay in late March;
Breeding season reports included up to four from Little
Sodbury, Doynton, Hinton, Ayford Farm near St. Catherine and
Yate; Flocks of more than twenty were seen at Charfield in
November and Tortworth in December with smaller numbers from
Oldbury on Severn.
1989: (max. 20)
Breeding was recorded at Tytherington, Tormarton,
Marshfield, Doynton and Hinton; A flock of twenty were noted
at Hinton in August.
1988: (max. 20)
Twenty were reported from Tormarton in February; Twenty were
seen at Hallen in April; Breeding season pairs were noted at
Horton and West Littleton but there was no firm evidence of
breeding, though breeding was confirmed at Hallen; There
were ten seen at Oldbury on Severn on the 30th October.
1987: (max. 3)
Up to three were noted near Marshfield between January and
July.
1986: (Noted)
One breeding season report from Marshfield.
1985: (max. 30)
A
flock of thirty were noted at Aust on the 1st February.
Breeding season reports from, Littleton-on-Severn,
Latteridge, Pucklechurch and West Littleton.
1984: (max. 50)
A
flock of fifty were recorded at Northwick Warth on January
28th; There were forty-five at Cromhall on February 5th; One
was noted at Rushmead Lane near Marshfield on May 4th.
1982: (max. 80)
A
flock of 80 (eighty) was present on the 28th January at
Oldbury Power Station.
1972 - 1981:
Tree Sparrow was reported as common or regularly occurring
from 1972 until 1981. (Avon Bird Reports)
1971: (max. 300)
A
flock of up to three hundred were reported from Aust on the
11th February.
1967: (max.150)
A
hundred and fifty were reported from Severn Beach on January
22nd.
1966: (Noted)
Breeding season reports from Acton Turville.
1965: (2)
A
pair were noted at Marshfield between May and June.
1964: (Noted)
Breeding season reports from Northwick, Dodington and
Pucklechurch.
1962: (max. 200)
A
flock of thirty-five were seen at Hanham on April 14th; A
pair fledged young near Filton Golf Course on July 12th;
Around two hundred were noted in fields at Aust Cliffs on
August 18th.
1961: (Noted)
Breeding reported from Wick, Moorend and Winterbourne.
1957: (max. 20)
Small roost of around 20 birds in reeds at Almondsbury on
October 25th; A flock of around ten at Wick on December 26th
– 31st.
1956: (Noted)
Breeding records from Little Stoke and Hambrook.
1954: (max. 8)
Breeding season records from Little Sodbury with four adults
on the April 25th; Mangotsfield with five adults on May
13th; And a nest with six young in an apple tree at
Tockington on June 4th.
1952: (Several)
Odd pairs found breeding at Downend and Little Stoke. Birds
reported outside nesting season from Aust, Frenchay and Iron
Acton.
1951: (Noted)
Reported in breeding season from Hallen Marsh and Oldbury on
Severn.
1950: (max. 30)
Up to thirty at Downend in mid February to early March; A
pair with nest and young at Lyde Green near Mangotsfield,
May 30th.
1949: (max. 4)
Three or four pairs breeding in orchard trees at Little
Stoke Farm at Stoke Gifford from May to July.
1948: (Several)
Reported in small numbers from Severn Beach on February 1st;
And on various occasions in winter from Stoke Gifford.
1947: (max. 12)
About a dozen at Olveston on April 12th; Six at Aust on
April 13th; Two adults feeding fledged young near Oldbury on
Severn on August 24th.
1946: (Numerous)
Numerous at Dyrham on January 21st; A dozen or more with
House Sparrows at Acton Turville on March I3th; Two near
Stoke Gifford on April 6th.
1945: (max. 20)
Up to twenty or more were noted at Dyrham on various dates
from early January to mid April, and again from mid November
onwards. A few were present at Stoke Gifford in January and
again in October and November.
1944: (max. 70)
Two or three were noted at Severn Beach on January 30th,
while between Dyrham and Doynton up to thirty were seen on
various dates from early February to the end of April. Noted
also in the Dyrham area from late July onwards, about
seventy on September 10th being the highest total.
Frequently met with in small numbers at Little Stoke, where
a pair, seen almost daily in May, was accompanied by several
fledged young on June 9th, had undoubtedly nested nearby.
Also heard in a cornfield at Littleton on Severn on August
6th.
1943: (max. 30)
A
few were present at Stoke Gifford in January and again from
October to December. A single bird was seen at Morton near
Thornbury on October 10th, and up to thirty or more between
Dyrham and Doynton from early October to the year end.
1941: (max. 20)
Up to twenty or thirty noted at Dyrham on various dates in
November and December. Appears scarce here and not known to
breed, but probably an overlooked winter visitor.
Though Tree Sparrow were present in S. Glos prior to 1941
there are no documented references.