Tags
Ashcott, Avalon Marshes, Canada goose, coot, Glastonbury Tor, Great white egret, Ham Wall, mallard, murmuration, pochard, rhyne, RSPB, Shapwick Heath, Somerset Wildlife Trust, Stephen Moss, swan
I hadn’t been to see the local starling murmuration this winter, so yesterday mid-afternoon I decided to rectify that. It’s always chancy, and for a good display the ideal weather is clear skies. Yesterday there was mainly thin cloud, but I knew that the birds would soon be migrating back to their north European breeding grounds, and I might not have many more chances. The Avalon Marshes starling hotline informed me that the previous night the starlings had roosted at both Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath, each accessible from the same RSPB car park at Ashcott, (recently created, to the great relief of those using the nearby country road from which the reserves are accessible.)
Once there, I decided, I’m not sure why, to go east along the rhyne (pronounced ‘reen’) or drainage ditch, making for Ham Wall, rather than westwards to Shapwick Heath. I made my way slowly to the main viewing platform, 400 metres down the path, enjoying what other birds were to be seen on the reserve, as night started to fall.
En route I observed Stephen Moss, naturalist, author and TV producer, and President of the Somerset Wildlife Trust, with a small group of people, and I reckoned I must have made the right decision as to direction. Once I was at the platform, the Avalon Marshes representative advised going on another 600 metres, as a thousand starlings had already made their way in that direction. “There’s another half million due, and earlier on in the season there were a million here, but they’ve started leaving. We have had as many as five million in years gone by.”
I walked on the extra distance, taking more photos.
When I’d gone the 600 metres, I was not alone – this was about a third of the people gathered there.
I moved slightly away and lower, to the bank of the rhyne, where there were fewer people. It wasn’t long before I became aware of birds streaming way up high over my left shoulder. They were all making their over to the north and doing a bit of their murmuring there, but at a low level and not very photographable. But I got a few pictures over the next 20 minutes or so.
Then they were gone, into the reeds, for the night. The moon was up, behind the cloud,
and it was time to wander back to the car park, along the rhyne.
Tardy small groups of starlings continued to fly over my head for a little while to join their roosting companions. How do they know where to go? What more pleasant way to spend a late afternoon? Why don’t I visit one of the UK’s most famous nature reserves, just 20 minutes from where I live, more often?
I’ve just rung the starling hotline again. Yesterday the starlings only roosted at Ham Wall. Good call.
Olive Simpson said:
What a lovely area – and great pics! Many thanks for sharing. xx
LikeLike
Musiewild said:
Thanks for ‘virtual(ly?)’ visiting with me Olive.
LikeLike
susanpoozan said:
Lovely views and splendid pictures of the starlings. Well done for picking the correct spot.
LikeLike
Musiewild said:
50/50 chance!
LikeLike
tootlepedal said:
I love watching starling murmurations and I particularly like the moment when they pour out of the sky and into the roosts. You certainly combined the starlings with an interesting walk. I would visit the place a lot if it was only 20 mins away. Excellent pictures.
LikeLike
Musiewild said:
Thank you. The journey is eminently cyclable, and has very good banana-eating spots. Have you ever been there when they get up in the morning? They all rise at the same time, warm up by hovering at a couple of metres high, and then all rush off together. Truly amazing.
LikeLike
tootlepedal said:
No, I have never seen them rise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christine said:
Belle promenade et beau crescendo d’oiseaux ! Côté paysage, j’apprécie particulièrement la photo avec les lumières du couchant à travers les branchages. Merci !
LikeLike
Musiewild said:
Merci Christine. Cette photo est une de mes préférées aussi.
LikeLike
maryh said:
Glad you chose the right place to go. What a peaceful scene until the murmuration. Splendid pictures of the area.
LikeLike
Musiewild said:
Shapwick Heath is where I took you a while back, so is was to the east of that.
LikeLike
Lavinia Ross said:
That was a beautiful visit, and I love the starling murmurations. That was a new word for me. Two of your media panels come up solid black for me. I am assuming those were videos?
LikeLike
Musiewild said:
‘Murmuration’ is the authentic word, and was a new word to me a few years ago. However, I should confess that I’m not sure that my saying the starlings were ‘murmuring’ was correct usage! Yes, there are two very short video clips in this post – sorry you’re not able to see them for some reason.
LikeLike
Josh Gross | The Jaguar said:
So many birds! It must’ve been quite an experience to witness such a large flock in person.
LikeLike
Musiewild said:
As they said – there have five million in the past! Sadly, starlings are joining the growing list of birds we’re beginning to worry about. Such a beautiful bird, specially at this time of year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Josh Gross | The Jaguar said:
I find it bizarre that starlings are declining in the UK, since on this side of the pond they’re considered to be a pest! You’re more than welcome to have some of ours, if you wish 😀
LikeLike
Musiewild said:
To be honest, many here consider them to be a pest – but not ‘wildlife people’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
fiendymac said:
Loved this Post….. Starlings are just incredible. I need to come up. Would love to catch Some starlings doing their thing….. And you too, of course!
LikeLike
Musiewild said:
Need to be soon – they’ve started to leave for their summer breeding grounds. And they don’t perform every evening… Be great to see you though!
LikeLike
Pingback: Birds and bridges | Tootlepedal's Blog