Starling Trail

The last few mornings I have watched the starlings from the Tor View hide in RSPB Ham Wall.  Each morning the birds have flown up from Waltons East reed bed over the hide and dropped into Waltons West before lifting off again and flying into the surrounding countryside.

Today it was time to go to far end of Waltons West and watch the second set of waves take-offs.  I watched from the willow screen looking back towards the hide where I had been for the last three days.

Unexpected Sunrise

To my surprise the morning started with a blood red sky.  I probably should have gone to the hide again as I am sure the view would be better from there.

Waltons West Sunset - Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7488

Waltons West Sunset – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7488

Waltons West Sunset - Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7492

Waltons West Sunset – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7492

A small flock of gulls passes by Glastonbury Tor.

Glastonbury Tor from Ham Wall - Somerset, UK. ID 808_7495

Glastonbury Tor from Ham Wall – Somerset, UK. ID 808_7495

The First Wave

The birds have left Waltons East, flown over the Tor View hide and dropped into Waltons West.

Starlings at Dawn on Waltons Heath - Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_5623

Starlings at Dawn on Waltons Heath – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_5623 (Taken early this week)

The starlings turn the reeds black then suddenly lift into the air.  The rush of their wings signals the drama.

The First Wave of Starlings - Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7627

The First Wave of Starlings – Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7627

The Second Wave

The starlings leave in waves.  Each group containing hundreds of thousands of birds.

The Second Wave of Starlings - Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7664

The Second Wave of Starlings – Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7664

The Second Wave of Starlings - Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7669

The Second Wave of Starlings – Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7669

The Second Wave of Starlings - Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7674

The Second Wave of Starlings – Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7674

Each wave fills the sky with birds.

The Second Wave of Starlings - Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7687

The Second Wave of Starlings – Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7687

The Third Wave

The Third Wave of Starlings - Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7699

The Third Wave of Starlings – Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7699

The Fourth Wave

I ran around to corner of the reserve to watch the starlings fly in front of Glastonbury Tor.  The morning colour is still beautiful.

The Forth Wave of Starlings - Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7739

The Forth Wave of Starlings – Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7739

And Finally

A big surprise, for the third time this week I saw an otter.  This one was swimming directly towards me but without a telephoto lens this was as close as I could get.

Otter - Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7765

Otter – Waltons West, Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 808_7765

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