Starling Trail

Waiting for dawn - Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4800

Waiting for dawn – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4800

Another week at RSPB Ham Wall watching the famous starling murmurations.  Due to my day job I visited mainly during the mornings, in fact I got to the reserve too early.  So I passed the time photographing this popular bridge under the night sky.

It was a long cold wait, but finally the starlings exploded into the air.

Starling Dawn - Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3998

Starling Dawn – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3998

Standing on the bridge to photograph the birds spreading out over the Glastonbury Canal.

Starling Dawn – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4213

Still photographs do not do the dawn explosions justice.  Watch the video to see the birds rush into the air.

The next evening we were blessed with another rainbow to welcome back the starlings to their roost.

Starling Murmuration - Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4302

Starling Murmuration – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4302

Sadly in the wet weather the birds did very little.  Flying in low and dropping straight into the reeds for the night.

Starling Murmuration - Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4491

Starling Murmuration – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4491

The sky did eventually break out some nice colours.

Starling Murmuration - Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4782

Starling Murmuration – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4782

Next morning, and another awesome starling explosion!

Starling Explosion - Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4910

Starling Explosion – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4910

Today a lot more birds flowed out over the canal.

Starling Dawn - Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4921

Starling Dawn – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_4921

In the evening the starlings were keen to bother the lapwings near the first viewing platform.  Soon both species were competing against each other for the best display.  I could only give the starlings and the lapwings 10 points!

Starlings and Lapwings - Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5161

Starlings and Lapwings – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5161

And finally…

Walking back to the car park and the late arrivals fly in through a beautiful sky.

Late Arrivals - Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5339

Late Arrivals – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID JB_5339

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