As a change from the usual sort of species I post, here's a Yellowhammer from the early 1990s, scanned from a print and spruced up a bit.
It was taken during a short walk from my parents' house in West Sussex (after Dad retired, Mum insisted they move from Croydon to somewhere near Pagham, for the birds). Down that lane there would be Skylarks, Grey Partridges and often a Little Owl. With luck, a Corn Bunting giving its jangling song from a particular post. A good variety of warblers. And for many years you'd hear Turtle Doves, the sound of summer, though eventually they stopped coming. At the right time of day, Curlews in the grass fields. A Merlin once, and one day a Peregrine perched on the ground in a field of arable for half an hour.
Much changed now of course, with populations of Skylark, Grey Partridge, Corn Bunting and Turtle Dove all in serious decline. The RSPB says that the status of Yellowhammer in the UK is Red (highest conservation priority, with species needing urgent action). But good memories.
Back to the here and now: thank you for your comments on my pictures, and good birding!
