I estimated 2500-3000 starlings roosted here last night, and I was hoping for a similar number this afternoon. Members of the Friends of Holt Island group came for an afternoon guided walk, and were planning to stay for the starlings, so my fingers had been crossed for another fine end to the day. I wasn't the only one - some people who watched last night had come back for another viewing.
The sky was partly cloudy, but the sunset was still impressive, and the starlings were even better.
The performance was mesmerizing, as the flock gracefully swirled over the reeds, with groups continually joining in, starting with a group of just eight soon after 5.30pm. The additions were slow to begin with - 5 here, 20 there, but then larger groups - 50, 100, perhaps 500. Eventually, there were about 5000, all working to the same choreographer. Perhaps we should have been listening to music from Swan Lake.
Suddenly, the flock closed up into a tight ball then it exploded like a firework. A sparrowhawk had come for supper.
After a couple more fireworks, the sparrowhawk departed. Had it caught supper, or had it been defeated by confusion?
After a while, groups of starlings dropped into the reedbed roost, the remainder circled, waiting for their turn to drop. As the last 50 birds disappeared, the audience in the car park gave them a standing ovation, and at least one spectator had tears in her eyes.
starlings, with a sparrowhawk at the bottom right corner of the flock