Starling Trail
Starling Murmuration – Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_2673
The starlings have left RSPB Ham Wall and are roosting in Natural England’s Shapwick Heath nature reserve. And they have been putting on an even better displays!
Wind
It was so windy today, about 40mph windy. So it was going to be interesting to see how the starlings coped. The answer was a stunning display of all quarter of a million birds back together in a single flock.
Starling Murmuration – Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_2931
As normal the birds started to arrive in small groups from around 4pm. Their numbers grew and grew as the flock whirled in the wind. On an occasion they would all disappear to then suddenly return over the trees.
Murmurations
After about 10 minutes the full flock had arrived. Even with my widest wide angle lens I could not get all the birds in a picture. The sky was full of birds from corner to corner.
Starling Murmuration – Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3519
Pushed around by the wind the flock twisted and turned creating fabulous shapes. In the background you could just make out Glastonbury Tor, and high in the sky was half a moon.
Starling Murmuration – Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3535
The Video
It was so good, and went on so long that video was the only way to go.
Dropping into the Roost
All good things come to an end and gradually the birds started to descend towards the reeds.
Starling Murmuration – Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3758
The Roost
Unlike the day before, today the birds roosted up against the footpath – literally only 2 or 3 metres away.
Starling Roost – Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3728
They turned the reeds black and crushed them flat.
Starling Roost – Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, UK. ID JB_3720
There are few words to describe how amazing the display was today, and I know none of them. Happy Christmas.
