My wife had mentioned to me a week or so ago that whilst returning home she had seen a murmuration of Starlings...and...being impressed as she had never seen this before, she stopped to watch.....a few days later she mentioned it again and that the number had increased quite significantly.....
Today we took our little boy to have a look....we were delayed in the traffic so arrived a little later than planned.....but....WOW.....it was very impressive. I cant remember the last murmuration I saw....a good number of years ago though....
We had arrived around the time they were getting very low and approaching roost....the whoooooosh!! of the wings could be heard as they passed over head....always an impressive sound that I best witnessed at RSPB Blacktoft Sands when the birds used to roost around the car park, you could stand nearby and they would pass a few feet over head...
Anyway.....we arrived a little later than planned due to traffic issues...there were several 'bodies' of birds occasionally joining and un-joining....thousands of them...it was hard to get a good number...at least 6,000....possibly as many as 10,000....I will try to return and find a better place to view as there is a footpath near by....
We parked at the Laddingford Engineering entrance in Gravelly Ways a little East of Beltring rail crossing as there is a fairly wide driveway allowing other vehicles to pass....the footpath that may offer better views or access to where they roost is about 150 - 200m back toward the rail crossing.
Worth it....you bet!!!....even my wife was amazed....and that....IS amazing!
Nice one Graham - guess just before dusk best??? Roosting near the fishing lakes alongside the railway???
ReplyDeleteyes, just before dusk...we were aiming to arrive at 5pm....i guess a bit earlier would have been good too....we arrived 5.15 and they settled by 5.30....if you stop at the Laddingford Engineering entrance the birds are settling to the right of the gate in the trees/shrubs there, so not over by the pits etc, the pits are further back toward the rail crossing (i was hoping to do some ringing there but its a fishing place)....i think the footpath would give access for a better view...i will be checking it out soon....
ReplyDeleteThanks Graham, popped over today...impressive! Tried footpath but trees obscure, so reckon laddingford engineering entrance prob best. 2+ Sparrowhawk & Peregrine all put in an appearance, the latter really making the birds 'ball up'!
ReplyDelete