As happens almost every year, the reedbeds and willows at Marazion Marsh play host to large flocks of Starlings overnight from the end of October to December. Numbers have slowly been building and on 31st October we estimated the roost held approximately 6,000 individuals. On calm, clear evenings their aerial displays, “murmurations” are quite a feature here and good views can be obtained from anywhere along the seafront – the pavement running alongside the main marsh at Mount’s Bay is usually the best place to be positioned for the best views.
On 2nd November, one lucky, or rather I should say sharp-eyed, observer managed to pick out from the flock, the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling that turned up a couple of weeks ago at the local supermarkets at Longrock village! We always suspected it probably roosted with its fellow Starlings on the marsh but you have to be quick to spot it because as soon as the birds settle in the reedbeds they vanish. I managed to take these photos of it near the B&Q roundabout recently and as you can see, it is quite distinctive in appearance with its pale, sandy-coloured plumage and a more thrush-like bill which shows yellow at the base unlike the all-black bills of Starling. This species is a vagrant here from Eastern Europe and one of only a few in the UK this year so good luck if you want to try and see it. I would recommend the parking lot at the nearby retail park though where the bird is seen during daylight hours most days hanging around with a much smaller flock of Starlings than we have on the reserve at dusk!
Good birding!
Written by Dave Flumm
Dedicated to Cornwall's wildlife