Just a quick update from me for today...having been thoroughly confused by "something weird" on the road up to the village earlier on. I was actually looking out for Blue Rock Thrush, with a pair looking like they might try and nest in a small ruin nearby I'm checking up on their progress whenever I pass by. I have to say I wasn't really expecting that much out of the ordinary, but a bird flashed across the road in front of me and for second I was completely clueless...

Fortunately it came to rest in a tree at the roadside and I got the binoculars square on it...mystery solved. A partially albino male Blackbird! An extraordinary sight...plumage as you would expect but for its head and neck, which were snow white. A truly remarkable looking creature, and something I can't recall ever seeing before.

I think I'm right in saying odd colour mutations can occur in a variety of species, and I know I've seen photographs of completely white Blackbirds in the past. Standing out in this way must surely make for a difficult life in terms of avoiding predators, but the individual I saw today has obviously managed to reach adulthood. With a bit of luck we'll encounter it again, and maybe get a photo or two posted. Watch this space...