I can't remember the exact date I last saw a Yellowhammer 'in the hand' and it's certainly a rare bird on Hilbre. Growing up in rural Suffolk in the 70's they were still a common birds wintering flocks numbering several hundred birds feeding on winter stubble. Changes in farming practices and the grubbing out of hedgerows and an obsession with keeping them 'neat' has meant numbers have reduced dramatically in many areas. The last time I handled one was at Wicken Fen on 3rd June 1978 when I ringed 3!
We are lucky to have a small number of pairs still breeding around the village where we live and we occasionally get them flying over the garden. We've yet to have one feeding in the garden but I'm hopeful it'll happen one day.
The third record for Hilbre since 2004 was found several weeks ago but proved to be very elusive. I'd had good views in the field but after going absent for several days it was caught in one of the heligoland traps.
It was a male in heavy moult which probably explains why it has been hanging around for awhile. based on the wear on the tail feathers and un-moulted primaries it was aged as a second calendar year bird (Euring 5).
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