Starling Trail

Starling Morning – Waltons Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_0218

It is the weekend and anticipating some very busy evenings at the RSPB Ham Wall starling roost I decided instead to watch the starlings leave in the mornings.

Saturday

A dull dark start to the day.  Sitting in the hide you could just make see the mass of starlings amongst the reeds.  As always they were very noisey.

After sitting in the dark for an hour the birds finally lifted out of their roost.

Starling Morning – Waltons Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_0292

Pouring over the hide.

Starling Morning – Waltons Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_0120

Very quickly the sky is full of starlings.

Starling Morning – Waltons Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_0307

Sunday

The next day was much brighter.

Starling Morning – Waltons Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_0608

The birds were happy in the reeds when they were spooked by a small bird of prey – perhaps a kestrel?  Thousands of birds moved across the heath.

Starling Morning – Waltons Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_0647

It was then not long before a group lifted up into the air.

Starling Morning – Waltons Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_0696

The flock continued to explode upwards.

Starling Morning – Waltons Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_0668

Once again, within seconds, the sky was full of birds.

Starling Morning – Waltons Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_0736

And finally…

After the last wave of birds has left it all goes quiet and still.

Waltons Heath – Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_0967