Ham Wall / Starling Murmurations

Starling Trail

by Jeff Bevan · Published 26th November 2021 · Updated 30th November 2021

Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID BR54696

Storn Arwen

The biggest storm to hit the UK in years was causing a lot of damage up north. While in Somerset it was not as bad, it was bad enough to make me head for the comfort of the Avalon Hide. You could feel the two story hide shaking about in the wind.

When the wind was up and the rain was coming down the starlings arrived low down, skimming just above the open water in the lagoon.

Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID BR54668

But in breaks in the weather there were some brighter skies allowing the birds to arrive in bigger flocks.

Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID BR54769

Despite the breaks in the weather the birds simply flew straight over the hide and immediately dropped into the reeds in front of the viewing platform (where the wet and wind blown people had something to watch). I had hoped the starlings would drop into the reeds next to the lagoon (near those swans). Hang around there for a while, then take off and skip low over the hide before dropping into the reeds for the rest of the night.

And finally..

Despite the lack of a good display it was still an enjoyable evening at RSPB Ham Wall on the Somerset Levels. To me, the picture below may be the most interesting, a great white egret had caught a starling and was carrying it through the air in front of the hide. Unexpectedly, the little starling got free and dropped away from the egret’s feet. After a bit of a free fall the starling began to fly off.