Best place to see starlings?

[Featherstick]

Hiya
Where is the best place to see huge flocks of starlings coming into roost. I have seen footage on TV over the years, but have never seen it for real with such large numbers of birds. I live in Ireland but am willing to travel anywhere to witness this

[solus]

First of all, you'll need to wait until winter! There are a number of well-known sites around the UK (I don't know about Ireland but I'm sure somebody here will) and many of the birds involved are winter visitors. If you search this forum for "Starling flocks" you will find a number or threads on just this subject.

Westhay Moor in Somerset is an excellent site and I think the website for the reserve posts updates on exactly where the flocks are to be seen (they move around from location to location as they flatten the reeds!) Slimbridge WWT Reserve in Gloucestershire generally has pre-roost flocks at some time during the winter months - again, you need to check the website for up-to-date information.

[ChrisJB]

Shapwick Heath on the Somerset Levels is the classic spot. Up north try Leighton Moss and/or Gretna.

Regards, Chris

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by Featherstick

Hiya
Where is the best place to see huge flocks of starlings coming into roost. I have seen footage on TV over the years, but have never seen it for real with such large numbers of birds. I live in Ireland but am willing to travel anywhere to witness this

Not sure which part of Ireland you're in but there should be plenty of roosts over there, though they may not be on the scale of the Somerset or Gretna roosts. Belfast City Council organise a 'Starling Watch' as birds come in to roost on Albert Bridge, there's an article here from Radio Foyle:

BBC - Northern Ireland - Radio Foyle - Breathing Places

The next organised event is on Saturday, November 27th, 2010:

Belfast City Council. Wildlife and biodiversity. Wild Belfast events.

Cheers
Jonathan

[burhinus]

Hi
From Ireland your best site will be the roost at Gretna Green just outside Dumfries. Can get easily over a million birds.

burhinus