Ham Wall / Starling Murmurations

Starling Trail

by Jeff Bevan · Published 16th December 2021 · Updated 20th December 2021

Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3043

Waiting for the starlings to return to their roost site at RSPB Ham Wall watching the Canada Geese pottering about. The weather was not promising, a dark dull flat sky. With so little light photographs can lake contrast and shine.

My photography my disappoint, but never the starlings. You never know where across the huge Avalon Marshes area of Somerset the birds will choose as their roost site for the night. They had been consistent for a few days, so I picked a spot and stuck to it. This is a high risk strategy, taking a more open location keeps you options open.

I need not have worried as around 4pm a huge flock of starlings arrived.

Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3561

Creating waves as the birds dropped down in the reeds.

Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3258

Swirling arcs comprised on ten of thousands of starlings. I’m not sure what that one in the middle of the frame was thinking – dare to be different?

Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3268

Now and then groups of birds in the reeds would burst out and rejoin the clouds.

Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3374

An explosion of birds is about to obscure Glastonbury Tor.

Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3383

Swirling waves of birds keep coming.

Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3593

A Marsh Harrier spook the resting birds across the water.

Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3924

Another harriers forces the starlings into a dense Starling Ball.

Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3950

You have look close to find the harrier in the ball that hides The Tor.

Starlings – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3952

And finally..

After picking one reed beds the starlings slowing streamed over the woods to a nearby patch. The picture hides how dark it was. The starlings made so much noise as I walked back to the car park.