A quick check of Norwick this evening produced 9 Swifts and the Pied Flycatcher and plenty of returning common waders on the beach. And then, of all the birds to relocate from Valyie to our garden it would be the escaped Redpoll !
Juvenile Common Swift at Norwick
Dunlin, Sanderling and Turnstone on Norwick beach
Escaped Redpoll at Millfield
The pale ground-colour to its rump and lack of pink on its flanks point to it being a Mealy Redpoll although an online reference suggests that many Redpolls in captivity are of 'mixed heritage' albeit it went on to say that pure Lessers in captivity are rare.
