Starlings

[cricketfieldclarets]

Anyone noticed the increasing number in Burnley centre? Not at Rome like levels but never noticed them before this winter. Big swarm of them, living in the trees by the council on parker lane all emerge at 1730 every day dancing around the town hall. Very impressive. Can also see some others from the canal just before that time heading to join them.

Wonder why theyve appeared this year?

[starting_11]

They appear suddenly, especially when you are near

[JimmyMac'sMate]

Charge um poll tax then utc

[tim_noone]

I've seen the ones at north pier Blackpool very impressive.

[Bfc]

I saw the same Starling murmaration of around 3,000 flying around tea time Sunday, but unfortunately the light was not good enough to photograph them. They do roost in the Conifers at the Council offices on Red Lion St. At other times of the year it's a favourite roost for lots of Pied Wagtails. The reason for it, is there's some very large lamps behind the trees, which when lit give off heat. Helping keep the birds warm in cold weather.

[Lord Beamish]

Carrying Souls to the Underworld, I expect.

[Longside4evr]

When these birds get into flocks of 10 of thousands and the swarm dance in the fading light sky it looks very impressive.

[Lord Beamish]

Especially when, in momentary simulacrum, they look like an Omen of Good Will, or a Harbinger of Doom. I especially like that.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

This thread has suddenly gone very Norwegian Death Metal....

[Caernarfon_Claret]

vlcsnap-2015-10-27-21h11m18s976.png (2.45 MiB) Viewed 2850 times

Not strictly a murmuration as it was in the morning, but amazing to be right underneath as they fly over.

Actually video capture.

At Dinas Dinlle.

[BurningBeard]

This thread has suddenly gone very Norwegian Death Metal....

Norway has more of a black metal heritage. Sweden is where it's at for death.

[BurningBeard]

Might just be me but I don't seem to see those huge flocks as often as I did as a kid 30-35 years ago.

[starting_11]

I've got a couple of trees worth near me but I can't say I ever notice them until summer.

Tis quite a sight though, there's not many of them but id say... 300 or so.

[dsr]

And when you walk anywhere near those trees in wet weather, it's like walking through sticky mud.

[Funkydrummer]

[Westyd]

Might just be me but I don't seem to see those huge flocks as often as I did as a kid 30-35 years ago.

Think your right according to to the RSPB

" Long-term monitoring by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) shows that starling numbers have fallen by 66 per cent in Britain since the mid-1970s. Because of this decline in numbers, the starling is red listed as a bird of high conservation concern."

Read more at https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildl ... Q3jKWI1.99" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Burnleyareback2]

They appear suddenly, especially when you are near

I’ve had a ridiculous day of travel delays and incompetence to deal with, sat down with a beer after 19hrs and had to log in just to like this.

Thank you

[IanMcL]

Used to loads in my garden - and sparrows. All gone for years.

[ontario claret]

Where's Alfred Hitchcock when you need him?

[dougcollins]

Sparrows back in my garden. Took 20 years plus mind.

[JohnMac]

The lads in Haffners told me about these last week but I haven't ventured down yet.

Best I have seen is c40,000 at Minsmere and c10,000 at Frampton Marsh.

The general decline in the bird population over the past 30 years or so is staggering and is mostly due to our intervention.

[TractorFace]

Makes you wonder what kind of world we will leave our grandkids.

[Bfc]

For anyone interested in seeing the Starling murmaration spectacle, you won't get a better opportunity than after the match tomorrow. If you're around Centenary Rd-Manchester Rd around 5-20pm, just look up into the sky and you can't miss them and the wonderful patterns they make. I went onto the canal bank for a better view, at tea time yesterday to watch and photograph them and estimated around 8000 in mostly 2 flocks which sometime was 1. There was to many to get a shot of them all, in my lens, the flock was that big.

[Bfc]

For anyone interested in seeing the Starling murmaration spectacle, you won't get a better opportunity than after the match tomorrow. If you're around Centenary Rd-Manchester Rd around 5-20pm, just look up into the sky and you can't miss them and the wonderful patterns they make. I went onto the canal bank for a better view, at tea time yesterday to watch and photograph them and estimated around 8000 in mostly 2 flocks which sometime was 1. There was to many to get a shot of them all, in my lens, the flock was that big.

[MrTopTier]

https://news.sky.com/video/starlings-li ... y-11258053

Not seen it live, however a lot of people have locally, but its made the main news, spectacular sight.

[cricketfieldclarets]

For anyone interested in seeing the Starling murmaration spectacle, you won't get a better opportunity than after the match tomorrow. If you're around Centenary Rd-Manchester Rd around 5-20pm, just look up into the sky and you can't miss them and the wonderful patterns they make. I went onto the canal bank for a better view, at tea time yesterday to watch and photograph them and estimated around 8000 in mostly 2 flocks which sometime was 1. There was to many to get a shot of them all, in my lens, the flock was that big.

Fantastic will make an effort to go up there after the match to see.

[cricketfieldclarets]

https://news.sky.com/video/starlings-li ... y-11258053

Not seen it live, however a lot of people have locally, but its made the main news, spectacular sight.

That is incredible. Was in Blackpool Sunday but didnt notice.

[ontario claret]

Did you get crapped on, Bfc?

[Man of Kent]

Did you get crapped on, Bfc?

I was walking through Leicester Square late one Saturday evening when someone let off an Air Bomb. The enormous bang instantly woke up the thousands of starlings roosting the the trees in the square in an instant and the terrified birds flew out of the trees and did what naturally happens ...and left their mark on many of the revellers and tourists below them! Whoever did it, clearly knew what was going to happen.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I was walking through Leicester Square late one Saturday evening when someone let off an Air Bomb. The enormous bang instantly woke up the thousands of starlings roosting the the trees in the square in an instant and the terrified birds flew out of the trees and did what naturally happens ...and left their mark on many of the revellers and tourists below them! Whoever did it, clearly knew what was going to happen.

[Bfc]

No OC, but a lady stood near to me had one land on her head. Would have been worse for her, had it been a sea gull.