Home Patch (12): Avian Visitors Old and New

The Chaffinch seems to prefer this red Acer to the green trees ... for camouflage perhaps?

This somewhat Leucistic female Blackbird was back on her patch this evening.

At least I'm assuming it was the same one, but perhaps not. What do you think? The earlier photo is here. [P.S. Later: I now begin to think it may be a different bird without so much white]. 

The new visitors today were three Swifts, who flew over the garden a couple of times, bringing my Home Patch Bird Species total to 21.

• Blackbird

• Blue tit

• Carrion Crow

• Chaffinch  

• Collared Dove

• Cuckoo ... heard but not seen on 9 May 2012!  RED Conservation status

• Dunnock

• Goldfinch

• Great tit

• Greenfinch 

• Grey Heron ... who flew past without landing

• Herring Gull

• Jay

• Long-tailed tit

• Magpie

• Mallard ... these flew past without landing

• Robin

• Song Thrush

• Sparrowhawk ... my thanks to Adam Tilt for confirming my ID attempt.

• Swift ... three flew overhead today, without landing. AMBER Conservation status (do read this work by a YOUNG RSPB campaigner!). You might also care to read this from Wild Up North.

• Wood Pigeon