Possible Common Rosefinch

Received via the Blog address from a visiting birder from Suffolk

Hi
> My wife and I spent a few days at Hebden Bridge recently, and on Monday
> Apr 2nd we walked up to Stoodley Pike in the morning. As we approached
> the monument on the section of the Pennine Way, after it had crossed the
> Pennine Bridleway, we saw a pair of Linnet-sized birds at a range of 25
> - 30 feet. One was a drab greyish brown but the other had a striking
> plumage, notably a very red head, throat and upper breast and a
> similarly red rump. Unfortunately I did not have my binoculars with me
> and was unable to get any more detail. It was a species unknown to me
> and on checking with "Collins Bird Guide" the species that had all the
> features that we saw is Common Rosefinch. The two birds seemed to be
> together so we considered they were a "pair". I would be interested to
> know if there have been any other reports of this or other unusual
> species in the area. I am a reasonably competent birder and know this
> was something out of the ordinary.