Once again, many people came to watch the starling roost at the end of this afternoon, including a number of RSPB colleagues from other locations. Some of the visitors come to watch the show frequently, and others were hoping to see the spectacle in real-time for the first time..
I'm glad to report that the starlings were back on form, which was great for the lady who was celebrating her birthday (and a relief for me).
The flock did the expected shape-shifting, and changed from a tightly-packed tennis ball to a huge whale within in seconds. Then there were squares, spinning tops, whirlwinds, and various animals before they eventually funnelled into the reeds for the night.
Starling numbers seem to be increasing again; I estimated there were between 6000 and 7000 here tonight. Will the cold weather that is now in eastern Europe and spreading our way bring us more starlings in the next few days?