My First Murmuration

I finally managed to get to see the starling murmuration on the reserve which everyone has been raving about. I have a murmuration viewing on my list of wildlife sights to witness, so what better way to cross it off.

Making my way to the old viewing screen overlooking Fisher's Mill Pool, I settled down by 3.15pm and I thought I'd already missed the spectacle. The light was poor and getting darker as the first small groups of birds finally appeared. 10's here, 20's there - slowly but surely their numbers increased and the little groups swelled to hundreds - not the massive flocks of starlings as witnessed at other sites around the country but nonetheless a murmuration and here on my doorstep.

Time and time again there was a whoosh just above my head as another little flock wanted to join in the fun. The familiar swirling, swooping and general crowding carried on before my eyes and as I was the only person there, I was priviliged to have my own personal performance! 

When they were ready to roost, there was a sudden shrinking of the flock size and then it dived in to a small area of reedbed with a lot of rustling going on. Some of the birds ended in the water in their exuberance!

I came away highly satisfied but the poor light conditions prevented clear photograpghs. There's always tomorrow.......