2003 - Bred, with many pairs nesting in the Nothe Fort itself, and several in houses on site and nearby.

Numbers were back to normal levels after last year's bonanza. Slightly higher numbers in the early part of the year were followed by a lower than average summer. There was a more encouraging post-breeding peak of 69 on 10 Aug, but numbers continued to decline thereafter, with a very poor end of year. Monthly maxima:

2002 - Bred, with many pairs nesting in the Nothe Fort itself, and several in houses on site and nearby. One of the most difficult species to count, with flocks often skulking in dense cover.

However, this year birds got the habit of feeding on the south shore, which made them easier to count, and this may have resulted in the higher nos recorded in the early part of the year. But numbers continued to rise through the summer, breaking new records each month until an astonishing record max of 195 were counted coming out of roost on 28 Aug, with 192 counted the next day. Numbers dropped back to more normal levels in the later part of the year. Was this due to an exceptionally good breeding season, or was it just a fluke that local Sparrows decided to use the south shore bushes as a roost? Monthly maxima:

2001 - Bred. Numbers seem to be lower in 2001. Monthly maxima:

2000 - Resident breeding bird. One of the most difficult species to count, with flocks often skulking in dense cover. The best bet is to count them when flocks are feeding actively around the cafes, but this usually happens on busy summer days when it is useless for everything else! Maxima regularly come out around 40, with record max so far 45 on 2 June. Monthly maxima:

Not counted prior to this date