Starling Trail
In my last post I introduced my guide to watching the Starling displays at the Avalon Marshes on the Somerset Levels. The full guide is available as a PDF: Download the guide
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x17QbnJOqwA&w=560&h=315]
The Starlings provide two shows each day – the most popular lasts for about half an hour and occurs around sunset. Go to this show if you are an “Ooh-ah, what a great pattern” kind of a person. If you are a “Wow, I know it’s early but did you see that, it was fantastic” person then the morning shows are tailor made just for you. Either way, for your first visit I would recommend an evening’s viewing.
- Ring the RSPB hotline (07866 554142) before setting off!
- Arrive early. The birds will start to arrive at sunset but you need to allow time to park and walk to the best viewing points. People will start to arrive at least an hour before sunset and the car parks soon fill. You will probably need to park on the side of the road.
- If you have a smart phone you may find it useful to get a sunset App.
- Try to avoid the weekends as the reserves can get very busy.
- Park facing the direction you want to leave – this is usually the other direction to the one you arrived. Turning around in the dark, as everyone returns to their cars at the same time, can be a challenge.
- If you arrive too early – stay and look out for Otters, Bitterns or
The roads over the levels are very uneven. The lumps change from year to year as the peat on which the roads were built swells and shrinks with the seasons. Driving too fast can cause you to takeoff and land with a crunch. I know this from experience when driving my wife’s car – the General Lee. Take care to keep your car on the road as there are ditches on either side!
Make sure that you lock your car and keep valuables out of sight. A few years ago I arrived at Westhay where 5 out of the 6 cars in the car park had been broken into. This raises two points: first, my suspicion was drawn towards the owner of the sixth car; second, you would be very lucky to find just 6 cars in the car park nowadays.
Except for Westhay the reserves form a line along the Glastonbury Canal. It is several miles from one end to the other. So the first question to ask before you leave home is – “Which end will I park?” This is best answered by checking the RSPB telephone hotline. For Shapwick it is best to park near at the Peat Moors Visitors Centre. For Ham Wall use the car park near the Railway Inn. Choose your car park wisely – if you go to the wrong end you will be in for a long walk. When you arrive you need to find the best viewing spot.
- Check with the RSPB staff, or read their notice boards. Best of all, find the time to listen to one of their talks.
- Ask around and find someone who saw the birds roost the night before.
- Study the first few flocks to see where they are flying
- If all else fails – follow the crowds.
The RSPB provide two viewing platforms. These can be used to watch the birds roost near the village of Stileway. From the platforms the birds can be quite a distance away so binoculars may be useful. However, most days binoculars are not needed
A Morning Visit
You will need to know where the Starlings roosted the night before – so if you can it is best to visit the reserve the previous evening. Arrive before sunrise in plenty of time to park and walk to the roost site. Initially it will be hard to see the Starlings in the dark, but you will soon hear them.
As dawn begins the birds start to move. They remind me of an enormous black monster swimming through the reeds surfacing now and then to take breath. Sometimes the monster reaches the edge of a bed and turns or pours across from one bed to another. Suddenly the monster explodes across the skies as a million Starlings go their separate ways. Then the reeds are silent. A volcano of Starlings spreading out over your head just above the tree tops. Bird watching does not get much better!
