Anyone familiar with Langford will know that every winter, starlings utilise our developing reedbeds for roosting. Numbers fluctuate greatly from year to year, with around 10,000 in 2010 (my first year here), growing to a massive 40,000 last winter.
This year is no exception to the rule and so far the numbers are up to 4000-5000 tonight reported by our Site Manager, Michael. This is the largest number we have seen this winter, with only 2000-3000 last week and around 800 the week before. We do hope that the numbers will continue to increase as the weeks go by, with the roost predicted to peak in December - early January.
Interestingly it's not just their numbers that fluctuate, their behaviour seems to as well. Some evenings they will put on a lovely display in the sky, twisting and turning synchronously - quite a spectacle. However, other evenings they seem to chose to drop into the reeds almost straight away! They have also moved their preferrerd roosting spot this year too. Last winter, the majority of birds were using silt lagoon 6 (the last one on the left as you walk up the public footpath). This winter they are further north, roosting in the thicker areas of reed at the northern end of Phase 1.
The best place to see the murmuration is either from the viewing screen or on the public footpath north of the viewing screen, from 15.45 onwards and do look out too for predators amongst the flock. Sparrowhawks and merlins will take starlings in the air as they gather.
And finally, if anyone fancies having a go at estimating numbers, do please let us know how many you think we have!