01/11/24 Rosy Starling, st Margaret’s

Last Sunday the Bockhill guys had a juv Rosy Starling among a flock of European Starlings from the Monument. 5 days later and it was found in someone’s garden. Phil and I had a nice low Hawfinch whilst looking for it deep in the village. Brendan and Jack joined us and we eventually saw the Starling perched high up in a tree in the early gloom. I didn’t see it again until this afternoon when it flew on to one of the roof tops and showed nicely in better light.

Really great birds and I realised it’s the first juvenile Ive seen away from Scilly and Cornwall.

In between my two sightings of this bird I walked from the pines gardens to Langdon Hole and back and had my best day for finches and thrushes yet this autumn with c1800 Goldfinch, 350 Siskin, c50 Redpoll, 10 Brambling, 300 Redwing , 2 Ring ouzel, 15 Reed Bunting a single Swallow and 12 Stonechat. Other noatble birds were this handsome male Black Redstart a Northern Wheatear and 2 Great Egrets that flew north over the channel early on.

Little to report from previous days despite regular coverage by both myself, Rich B, the Johnsons and Steve R -3 Ring Ouzel on the 31st, a Woodlark over Foxhill down on the 27th, Goldcrest and Firecrests well represented and small numbers of migrant finches.