Starling Trail
This morning there were several groups of starlings roosting across Ham Wall. One group was in Waltons Heath, one in the middle of Loxtons Marsh and another deep in the reserve towards Sharpham Moor.
I decided to wait next to a group in the north west corner of Loxtons Marsh. Each morning the groups had been taking off in the same order and this group was always last to leave. Therefore likely to have the most light at take off.
This series of pictures lasts for just 2 seconds and shows the group lifting into the air and leaving the reserve.
At the start the birds can just be seen as a black mass in the reeds about 20 metres away.
Starling leave the Loxtons Marsh 1 – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_3309
The starlings stop chattering for a second then lift into the air in a single wave.
Starling leave the Loxtons Marsh 2 – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_3316
Starling leave the Loxtons Marsh 3 – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_3318
Starling leave the Loxtons Marsh 4 – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_3320
Starling leave the Loxtons Marsh 5 – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_3322
Two seconds and it was all over.
