Avian Pox

Sadly I had to send this collage to the RSPB Wildlife Team this afternoon. I photographed this Sparrow sitting in my fence and noticed the lump on the base of its beak!   I found on the RSPB website that it is Avian Pox, a viral skin infection that shows up as warty growths on the head, beak, legs and other body parts of the infected bird. The RSPB suggest reducing the amount you feed while affected birds visit the garden to help reduce close contact between them and healthy birds. I think I will remove my two feeders for a while, and also keep a watch on a possible return of this bird, or possibly (but hopefully not) other infected birds.