28 May 18

The Slopes

Love living on Portland, especially when you can just drop everything and go off and see a new bird that has arrived from across the Channel. This morning it was Rosy Starling which is thought to have been a different bird to the two seen at The Bill yesterday.

Apparently there is quite an influx of this beautifully coloured Starling on the Continent. This one today was outside the west fence of Qinetiq Here, which made it difficult to view firstly because of the haze and secondly because of the distance myself and other birders were having to view it from Here.

Also about a pair of Stonechats, a Skylark and a pair of Meadow Pipits collecting food for youngsters. Lots of Common Blues and Small Blues, plus what I believe is a Common-grass Veneer (Agriphila tristella).

Here are few images from this morning plus a very hazy video and images of the Rosy Starling.

Qinetiq........

........with the viewing point at the far right of the fence.

The Rosy Starling..........

............well camouflaged in the pink Thrift.

It was really hazy this morning, but you can just make out this adult Rosy Starling feeding in amongst the Thrift.

Staonechat

A Meadow Pipit with food.

A Skylark

A female Small Blue

And if I've got this right a Common-grass Veneer

A Guillemots egg which looks as if it was predated by a Raven.

Note: This is what a Rosy Starling looks like close-up. (This one was at Flamborough on 24 May 18)   Click Here.