The birdwatching at Fen Drayton Lakes this weekend has been all about migration, with lingering summer visitors and newly-arrived winter visitors. Willow warblers, yellow wagtails and hobbies have been holding on for the summer brigade, while redwings, bramblings, siskins, lesser redpolls and the first goldeneye of the autumn were all new arrivals.
For me, however, the highlight was the spectacular starling swarms. Four of us arrived early, to begin the monthly wetland bird survey at 7am, but our work was delayed briefly when 4000-5000 starlings rose from the Holywell Lake reedbed as one, like a mushroom cloud. They quickly dispersed, no doubt hungry for breakfast.
After a beautiful summer-like day, we closed up the information point just as the first small flocks of starlings appeared.
The small flocks merged, shoaling above the reeds, absorbing each incoming flock as they performed their synchronised swirling infront of the setting sun. After half an hour, with an estimated 2000 starlings in the flock, the first birds plucked up the courage to swoop down into the reeds, to spend the night there. Each time the swirling flock passed above the chosen patch, more birds seemed to be sucked down into the reeds, until they had all squeezed in. Flocks of late arrivals went straight into the reeds, guided in by their chattering companions.
At least three sparrowhawks were in the area too, looking forward to a starling supper, although we didn't see any successful catches.
The performances will happen each evening for the next few weeks, but we can't be sure just how long. They ended in late November in 2009, but continued until the end of December in 2008. The performance times are variable too. One night last week, the finale was at about 5.30pm, tonight it was just after 6pm. It seems to be partly influenced by the weather conditions (and perhaps the predators), but performances will gradually get earlier as days shorten.
Contractors will close our entrance road this week (Monday 11 to Friday 15 October), so that the Bailey bridge can be refurbished, but access should be back to normal for the weekend. If you simply cannot wait until then, local footpaths from the villages will be unaffected by the works, and there is an alternative road in, through Fen Drayton village. This road is not recommended, however, as it has some savage pot holes.