Well, it has a ring on its leg and has the look of a Finch or a Jay about it. I shall be interested to see what others think.

I saw the ring but wasn't able to see any details on it.

Have checked my bird books but can't yet see this combination of markings.

Definitely not a Jay... on of the Finches but which one?

A finch rather than Jay but, offhand, I could not say which.

My best 'guess' is a Brambling - snag is pix are out of focus so it is difficult to tell. Take a look at the link below nd see if this is what you saw

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/b/brambling/index.aspx

I think it might be a common house sparrow (female) with leucism (partial albinism). Apparently, sparrows with varying amounts of white are fairly common.

I found this pic of one:
http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-feeding-leucistic-sparrow-57490427.html

I agree with Buddejagar. I think it's a common sparrow with some sort of a gene mutation.

Sorry, don't agree...

What is Leucism?
Leucism, or leukism, is an abnormal plumage condition caused by a genetic mutation that prevents pigment, particularly melanin, from being properly deposited on a bird’s feathers.

As a result, the birds do not have the normal, classic plumage colors listed in field guides, and instead the plumage have several color changes, including:

White patches where the bird should not have any
Paler overall plumage that looks faint, diluted or bleached
Overall white plumage with little or no color discernable

The degree of leucism, including the brightness of the white and the extent of pigment loss, will vary depending on the bird’s genetic makeup. Birds that show only white patches or sections of leucistic feathers – often in symmetrical patterns – are often called pied or piebald birds, while birds with fully white plumage are referred to as leucistic birds.

https://www.thespruce.com/bird-leucism-387342

My first thought was sparrow and it certainly isn't a brambling.

My doubt was why would a common sparrow be ringed but, perhaps, the mutation means it is not common and someone is studying the mutation.

My first thought was a snow bunting, but it doesn't look right and its in the wrong place

There appears to be a lot of variation in the colouring of these leucisitic sparrows, but there are two or three images on the web which fit this one exactly.

Are sparrows, especially unusual color forms, in the pet trade in the UK? That looks like a bird breeder's band.

I have shown this photo to my son who is a very keen & experienced bird watcher. He can't identify it.
He thinks that is an escapee from a bird collection. The ring on the leg gives it away. He is asking around to see if anybody knows what it is.
When I get any feedback I will let you know.
Marjorie

I have seen scores of birds with Leucism to me this doesn't fit the picture, looking again I agree it isn't a Brambling. An escapee is certainly a possibility Marjories.

I thought it must be a finch of some kind but having gone right through Birds of Europe and the Western Palearctic there was nothing like it. I think it must be an aviery escapee. Perhaps the RSPB would help even though its not a Brit?

Possibly a Goldfinch with leucism, escapee because of the ring.
Have a look here, though this in the US.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/billslatteryjr/8454230256

Thanks for all your interest. I have put the photos out for my friends and contacts to look at and again no definite
identification yet.
The ring seems to be confusing people.

I asked a friend on the sister site to GoY, 'Ispyabird' and have just had a reply saying it is a female Snow Bunting. Certainly looks like images shown on Google!

Thank goodness Shirley. I did what I believe lots of have done and shifted through the UK bird identification sites without success.

Jimmy, I have since discovered there is a group called the North West Norfolk ringing group. In 1991 a project was set up to study the racial composition and sex ratio of Snow Buntings wintering on the North Norfolk coast.

Norfolkapple - I hope this helps!

Interesting that the books say that sightings in gardens are uncommon and usually involve partially albino sparrows.

Canaries come in a lot of colour variations, a possibility?

Shirley, I just checked with the Audubon Guide to North American Birds. It says that Snow Buntings live up in the Arctic, Canada, Alaska & the Yukon. Maybe that explains the bracelet. He could be an escapee. I've never seen a Snow Bunting, that's why I thought it might be a sparrow. I learned something today. yippee!

Well we have plenty of Snow Buntings in Scotland Bathgate...

To keep the confusion going - this bird has many similarities to a Snow Bunting but an SB has black legs and an orange bill. Also a bird like this, in breeding plumage, would be up in the mountains now and not in a Norfolk garden.

If these birds can live in Alaska year round- they can have whatever color feathers they want. They've earned it.