Dengemarsh - 0830hrs - warm, dry, sunny, light airs - Did a circular walk from Boulderwall to Dengemarsh via Springfield Bridge and back past the turkey sheds on a glorious autumn day with hardly any wind. As a consequence plenty of passerines noted included 30 Chiffs, 10 Blackcaps, 10 Sedge and 5 Reed Warblers, 5 Common Whitethroats and singles of Willow and Garden Warbler. Overhead a light passage of Swallows and Mipits plus a few Skylarks and Siskins. More grounded migrants at the Corral with 2 Yellow Wagtails, Wheatear and Stonechat. Robins, Blackbirds, Great and Blue Tits, Reed Buntings everywhere, as well as 2 Mistle Thrushes, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard. A Bittern flew across Hookers reedbed and the Great White Egret was in its usual bay on Dengemarsh where also Greenshank and 2 Snipes. At least 5 different Marsh Harriers on the wing.
DBO - 1315hrs - A juv Rose-coloured Starling had been located in a Starling flock and gave good views from the Moat where it attracted a healthy crowd of locals. The pink legs and yellow base to the short, blunt bill were the clinchers from juv Starling. More contrast between the dark wings and buff body too, with the rump looking pale in flight. On the deck facing away it resembled a Wheatear. Rose-coloured Starling is a rare bird in these parts and certainly nowhere near annual. A good find by the Head Ranger.
Rose-coloured Starling, juv, DBO - (my excuse this time is the heat haze...)
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