Starling Trail

Walton Heath at Ham Wall - Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_8610

Walton Heath at Ham Wall – Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_8610

I do not normally post video, put the starlings at RSPB Ham Wall in Somerset this morning were so stunning that I had to share.

Before playing the video here are some things to look out for:

  • It is a perfectly calm winter’s morning no wind to ripple the surface of the water
  • In the distance you can hear the starlings within the reeds
  • For a second it goes quite
  • Then the roar of their wings builds and builds
  • The flock comes into view and spreads across the sky
  • Thousands of wings create a breeze strong enough to sway the branches of the trees

Starlings fill the sky

Just Before

I set my video rolling on a tripod, for half and hour it filmed nothing.

Meanwhile, out of shot a stream of starlings flew over the Tor View hide to the western side of Walton Heath. Now all the starlings were cramed together in a single reed bed.

Starling Dawn - Walton Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_8691

Starling Dawn – Walton Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_8691

From behind the viewing screen down the heath from my video camera the flock emerged out of the darkness.

Starling Dawn - Walton Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_8729

Starling Dawn – Walton Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_8729

After a couple of seconds they had filled the sky, heading towards my video camera.

Starling Dawn - Walton Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_8765

Starling Dawn – Walton Heath, Ham Wall, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_8765

I walked back to my video camera to check what it had recorded.  An amazing sight and noise.

And finally…

While walking back to the reserve car park the sun rises over Walton Heath.  Not a starling in sight.

Ham Wall Sunrise - Avalon Marshes, Somerset, UK. ID JB_8878

Ham Wall Sunrise – Avalon Marshes, Somerset, UK. ID JB_8878

It was a beautiful winter morning.

On the South Drain a mute swan slowly swims towards the railway bridge.

South Drain at Ham Wall - Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_8906

South Drain at Ham Wall – Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_8906

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