Two days since I spotted a different bird in our front garden. Whipped the binoculars out, and saw the beautiful shade of pink on head and breast. My birdbook - which I have had since I was eleven, and is very battered - shows a few other birds of similar markings, however my neighbour has also seen the bird, and she is fairly certain that it is a linnet.
My bird book has a checklist, but I have seen one at some time in the distant past. I keep hoping to see it again.