Juvenile Rosy Starling
Since around mid-November, Rosy Starlings have been appearing at two locations. Today I went to see the one closer to home.
It seems to be touring the farmland day by day, mixing with flocks of Common Starlings and Red-billed Starlings. On this occasion it had joined a flock of about ten White-cheeked Starlings. I was on the move between work assignments, so I had only about fifteen minutes to observe.
On the coast, Ruddy Turnstones, Grey-tailed Tattlers, Siberian Sand Plovers, Pacific Golden Plovers, and Red-necked Stints were present. Again, about fifteen minutes of observation. Lately I've been too busy to get out properly.
Rosy Starling, juvenile. Molting from juvenile into first-winter plumage.
Size comparison with White-cheeked Starling. The Rosy Starling looks slightly smaller.
A Rosy Starling that caught some kind of larva.
By around the new year, the molt should have progressed and the bird will likely have taken on the colors typical of a Rosy Starling.
Grey-tailed Tattler, first-winter plumage.
Ruddy Turnstone, winter plumage.