A Little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese

For the past week, I've been watching five Yellowhammer, regularly coming to one of the feeding stations at my local patch at Staunton Harold Reservoir. So this morning I spent my Sunday breakfast photographing them. Unfortunately I could only spare an hour due to family issues. Nevertheless, several males were reasonably obliging. 

The Yellowhammer is one of the brightest and most conspicuously yellow birds. As a child I can remember listening to the Yellowhammer's distinctive "Little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese" song at Gibralter Point in Lincolnshire. The song seemed to come from every sea buckthorn bush and it was one of the first bird songs I became familiar with. These days, and I find it difficult to believe, the Yellowhammer is becoming a rare bird. At Staunton Harold, the species is down to three or four pairs at the most. During last year's winter period, the maximum I recorded at the feeding station was nine birds, five males and four females. This year's winter period, so far, the maximum I have counted has been six, three males & three females. I fear that it will soon disappear, just like the Corn Bunting and what a disaster that would be..

Above seven images – Yellowhammer – male – Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Robin – Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©

Dunnock – Staunton Harold Reservoir, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©