Rosy Starling - 2002-2018

Sternus roseus - DRUDWEN WRIDOG - Rare visitor

 2002 - Sub-ad Skokholm 3 & 4 June, ad there 7, 9 & 17 June (GT), ad Skomer 11 June (predated by a Sparrowhawk) (JGB), ad Ramsey 20 June (SA), ad St David’s 20-23 Aug with 2 ads there 24 & 25 Aug (LL et al), juv Skokholm 19, 20 & 30 Sept and 1-3 Oct (GT), probably 7 or 8 individuals involved.

2003 - Two spring records: Strumble Hd 7 (AR) and Porth Clais 19-21 June (LL). In autumn, a juv on Skomer 15 Sept (JGB) was the third for the Island.

2008 - A 1st winter bird was found in a Haverfordwest garden on 26 Feb.  It remain in the same area until 1 May, by which time not only had it been seen by many observers, but it had also changed into adult plumage.

2009 - The only record received was of a juvenile in a Pembroke Dock garden 18 Nov - 2 Dec (per RD).

2010 - A single adult first seen at Treginnis & then St. Davids was present from 28th April until the 9th of May (JB, MB, BD).

2011 - A juvenile was on Skomer from 29th Sept until 2nd Nov (DB).

2012 - An adult Martin’s Haven 5 June (T. Hutton, ST), a juvenile Haverfordwest 18-21 Oct at least (Krystal Thomas).

2013 - An adult at Whitesands Bay / St. Davids Head 22nd to 26th Aug (J & MB, MYP).

2014 - A Juvenile present at Lleithyr Farm Campsite St. Davids from 19 - 26 September was the only record this year (M Thomas, et al).

2017 - Juvenile at Roch 12 – 14 Nov (RM), was probably the same that was at St. Florence 26th – 30th Nov (PV).

2018 - Juvenile moulting into adult at Roch 8 Feb, presumed same at Robeston Wathen 5 March. Adults at Whitesands 14th June (MYP), Skomer 4th June (SKP, ES), Hakin 10th June (CN), West Hook Farm 10 June (CS & KS). Finally, a juv. Castlemartin 25th Oct (per blog).

Records extracted from the Pembrokeshire Bird Reports

Rosy Starling - accepted records 1990 - 2001

Sturnus roseus

British Birds Rarities Committee

1990 Dyfed Skomer, juvenile, 28th September (C.Orsman, S.J.Sutcliffe, H.A.Williams).

1995 Dyfed Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire, juvenile, 18th-19th September (C.Benson, G.Jones, G.H.Rees).

1996 Pembrokeshire Pembroke Dock, adult, 13th-14th January, photo. (M. & Mrs C.Rowe).

1999 Pembrokeshire St David's, adult, 16th-22nd May 1999, photo. (J.W.Donovan, S.White et al.).

1999 Strumble Head, juvenile, 29th-30th August, photo. (S.E.Berry et al.).

2000 Pembrokeshire Skokholm, adult, 8th-10th June (G.Thompson et al.).

2000 Strumble Head, juvenile, 10th-12th September (S.E.Berry et al.).

2000 St David's, 20th-21st June (Mr Jones, L.Lomax, O.Roberts et al.).

2001 Pembrokeshire Strumble Head, 17th June (M.Deans, L.Gregory, D.K.Underwood).

2001 Pembrokeshire Haverfordwest, juvenile, 16th October to 21st November, photo. (F.Lanthorn, B.Morgan, G.H.Rees).

Rosy Starling was dropped from the BBRC list in 2001, and subsequent records are evaluated by the Welsh Rarities Panel.

Rose-coloured Starling - 1949 status

Pastor roseus (Sturnus roseus)

One seen near Gateholm, 19 June 1939 (B.Birds XXXI, 149).  One on 16 Oct 1946 at Marloes (RML).  Mathew gives two rather vague records from St Florence and Castlemartin.

R.M.Lockley, G.C.S.Ingram, H.M.Salmon, 1949, The Birds of Pembrokeshire, The West Wales Field Society

Rose-coloured Starling - 1994

Sturnus roseus

Rare visitor

Mathew (1894) noted Rose-coloured Starlings at St Lawrence and Castle Martin but gave no details. Lockley et al. (1949) recorded birds at Gateholm on 19 June 1937 and at Marloes on 16 October 1946.

Single birds were then recorded at Waterston on 2 January 1974, at Treginnis on 29 July 1975, at Flimston on 1 July 1984, at St David's from 4 November to 2 December 1986 and at Skomer on 28 September 1990.

Donovan J.W. & Rees G.H (1994), Birds of Pembrokeshire

Rose Coloured Pastor - 1894

Species account from M Mathew, 1894, "The Birds of Pembrokeshire and its islands"

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