Starling Trail

by Jeff Bevan · Published 7th January 2017 · Updated 15th January 2017

This morning RSPB Ham Wall was sitting in the fog. In this weather there was only one option and that was to go to the Tor View hide where you should be as close as you can get to the birds.

Whirlpool Movie

If you have never watched the starlings at dawn then watch this video with the sound turned up! The birds are flying around in the reeds restlessly waiting for the day to start. Its a whirlpool of birds flying in all directions.

The Fog

The fog created quite an atmosphere. The fog is calming but the birds never stop chattering. You could hear the roar of the birds taking off before you could see them. They emerged out of the fog to fly over the hide.

Starlings in the Fog – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 809_1806

The starlings like to fly to this small triangle of reeds next to the Tor View hide. It seems to be one of their favourite take-off sites.

Starlings in the Fog – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 809_1770

The last few groups leave the heath.

Starlings in the Fog – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 809_1891

Starlings in the Fog – Ham Wall, Somerset, UK. ID 809_1907

Add Finally

This glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) came out the fog and spent some time feeding in front of the hide. I do not have a telephoto lens so this bird was only a few metres from the hide.