www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Saw this beauty in the garden at lunchtime....
Grabbed the camera and got a few quick shots Apologies for poor quality - Any ideas?

I thought Snow Bunting when I initially saw it, but it was whiteish cream on top, much more yellow on the breast,with a few brownish feathers along the wing and a greyish cap.
Bottom picture gives a different view...
It sang some melodious notes before departing...
N

Could it be a yellowhammer? I first thought grey wagtail or yellow wagtail, but it looks more bunting like than a wagtail

My thoughts too - a bunting of some sort...
Come on Twitcher (s) ....any ideas?

N

Sorry Nick, but it looks like an escaped canary of some kind, (to me.)
I bet some poor old dear has lost it and will advertise in the local shops for it.

Denise

Yeah - Having gone through the obvious my final thought (accompanied by the melodic song) was a bleeding canary!
Can I add that to the species list for the garden?

N

Absolutely! I have a Budgie on mine.
I have a lot of wild stuff too.

Denise

I'm pretty sure its a Serin, bird guides have a few photos of one.
Shirley

I don't think so Shirley. You don't get Serin in the UK in Feb.
Besides, the shape and size are all wrong (the jizz) and Serin have a distinct head pattern (both sexes) which Nick's bird is missing.
Good try though. It's about the closest that you can get to Canary.

Denise

Thats what I thought at first, before I thought wagtails or bunting, a canary. I have had three in past and one looked similar to that one, although it was more yellow and one I had was orangy, they had similar look. But seeing a Serin, it does look like it. On the RSPB website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdgui ... /index.asp it says: Most records are in April and May, although it has been recorded in the UK in all months

Looking closely at the claws, it seems as though the bird has overgrown nails, perhaps more indicative of an escaped caged-bird than a wild one?
N
Canary for me; one more onto the list! I checked-out the Serin and the Siskin (male, summer) in my books but the grey head-cap doesn't fit any bunting or finch that I can see...and the lack of markings on the body rules them out too...I stand to be corrected...

Hi
I agree with Denise a border Canary,
Shaun

100% an escaped canary...