Starling Trail

The Starlings have been here, there and everywhere recently.  So I decided not to beetle after them.  Instead I went to the Hawk and Owl Trust reserve of Shapwick Moor just beyond Shapwick Heath.  Its a fascinating place.

This is a small reserve of just a few fields.  It is a major staging post for the Starlings before they fly the short distance over the trees to their roost site on Shapwick Heath.  The Starlings arrive early, in small groups, and gather in the fields with other birds including Lapwings.  Then when the time comes to roost they lift as one and fly in a single flock to the heath.   If the wind in the right direction you can here the noise as crowds of people see the birds arrive over the trees into Shapwick Heath.

Starling Storm

A rolling mass of Starlings lifts a flock of Lapwings into the sky at Shapwick Moor

Heading to the Heath

Heading to the Heath from Shapwick Moor

Starlings and Buzzard

Starlings and Buzzard (in the tree)

 

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