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Does anyone know of a good location in the south east UK to photograph swarming starlings before they roost for the evening?
Ian
Ian
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Founder and editor of:
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
Brighton, especially around the 'Old Pier'.
Seen it many many times but never had the camera with me.
Give it a go.
Also Whitstable Pier sometimes.
Hope this helps.
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
Interesting - I thought you had to be inland in farmland. I have a mate who lives in Brighton - will ask him about this!
IanFounder and editor of:
Olympus UK E-System User Group (https://www.e-group.uk.net)Comment
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
Yes I think old piers are a favourite as they can roost over water and away from aerial and land predators. Dense reed beds are also a favourite. I remember whist sailing up the Eastern coast of the Firth of Clyde we moored for the night in the harbour at Stranraer and after fish and chips we walked up the old abandoned (But very solid) wooden pier. Thousands of Starlings had roosted underneath along the whole length and were making a real din but as we passed over them the ones directly underneath us fell completely silent until we had passed when the started up the racket again. Magic!
DavidPBase Galleries:-http://www.pbase.com/davidmorisonimagesComment
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
Ian,
I can definitely recommend Brighton old pier. I have seen them when I was staying down there with work on Brighton rail depot.
IanComment
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
Yes Brighton is one of the places that is famous for this. As David Morison says large reed beds are a favourite for starling roosts. We had quite a good display at Abberton reservoir as I was leaving for home on Saturday evening.
The best display I have witnessed was at the RSPB reserve at Minsmere in Suffolk. What impressed me on that occasion was the sheer volume of sound from the birds wings as flocks flew in from all directions. You could actually hear them coming before you could see them.
Regards.
Peter
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
Ian,
You could try further north - Gretna. Here's a youtube video from 2008.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vhE8ScWe7w[/ame]JamieComment
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
I was going to say Gretna too Jamie
Fantastic display and one I have to get some shots of.Comment
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
There used to be a very large roost on a bridge in Runcorn but I don't know if it's still there. There was a couple in south Cheshire a year or so ago but I don't know if they're about this year.Comment
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
Got that Elbow song in my head now
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGegmMWsgu8[/ame]Roger
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
Oooh yes, known as a murmuration - fabulous sight.
Not where you're looking Ian I appreciate, but we get them here on the Gwent levels. If you're down this way for a look, give me a shout.John
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
Thanks for this everyone - is there a particular time of year when to look out for this? Is it worth looking around at the moment?
IanFounder and editor of:
Olympus UK E-System User Group (https://www.e-group.uk.net)Comment
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
Yes, Winter - flocks are building and at the right place you should encounter thousands. The biggest flock I've seen flying over so far is around 600.
DavidPBase Galleries:-http://www.pbase.com/davidmorisonimagesComment
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
Yes, now IanOriginally posted by Ian View Post
John
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Re: Like to find a good location for starling swarms?
That Elbow video is great. I haven't seen it before and the icing on the cake is that Guy Garvey from Elbow is a birder.
The Brighton Starling roost was featured on Autumnwatch a couple of years ago. I think the birds 'put on their display' over the sea and then roost under the pier. They had great infra-red footage of the birds communicating with each other as they settled down for the night.
RonComment
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