MONTGOMERYSHIRE BIRDS: Rose-coloured Starling near Montgomery

Notable Recent Sightings

20/04	Whimbrel	1, Dolydd Hafren
12/04	Black-necked Grebe	1, in breeding plumage, Llyn Coed-y-Dinas
10/01	White Stork	1, photo'd near Llansantffraid, present up to 28 Feb
01/10	Glossy Ibis	1, photo'd by Osprey camera at Cors Dyfi
17/09	Grey Phalarope	1 juv, Red Ridge Centre, Cefn Coch, photo'd
29/05	Pink-footed Goose	1, over Welshpool, photo'd on 09/06
01/05	Red-throated Diver	1, Llyn Clywedog
07/02	Whooper Swan	44, Lake Vyrnwy
31/01	Whooper Swan	51, Haimwood, Llandrinio
		See Sightings Archive for older records

Sunday, August 01, 2021

Rose-coloured Starling near Montgomery - a new bird for the county!

Nick Randall-Smith saw this strange bird in his garden and didn't recognise it. So he took this photo and sent it to Iolo Williams. Iolo, leading a group on Mull, tweeted the image and that he missed it on his home patch! Clare follows Iolo on Twitter, so I heard about it, and asked Iolo for permission to use the photo. Luckily permission soon followed. Many thanks both to Nick and Iolo. A quick look at the county list (http://www.mbog.co.uk/downloads/VC47_Birds.pdf) suggests that this is a NEW RECORD for Montgomeryshire!

Rose-coloured Starlings nest in large colonies in Western Asia. I have seen them nesting in quarries and dams in Kazakhstan. A few regularly visit UK in late summer. This individual is an adult in superb plumage.