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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
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05-11-2011, 08:22 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Willingham, Cambs
Posts: 1,997
| | | Murmur of Starlings
On Friday evening, I was lucky enough to watch flocks of starlings combining and then wheeling around the sky above the reed beds at Fen Drayton; until they all disappeared down to roost as one.
I have seen film of this on TV but never live before. I show below some of the many shots taken with a still camera and selected to try to give a flavour of the movement and drama. I pumped up the ISO and also changed to my Tamron f2.8 28-75 to get as much light as possible - something of an immediate learning curve. Thank goodness for NeatImage as well.      
Thank you, and 'Good Night' 
Colin
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05-11-2011, 11:22 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 2,755
| | | Re: Murmur of Starlings
Fantastic formations! One of nature's wonders.
I learnt a line or two of T.S.Eliot years ago:
"as a murmuration of starlings
Over wolds unwittingly weave" as an example of alliteration - we used to see them more often then.
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06-11-2011, 08:22 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: SW London
Posts: 2,099
| | | Re: Murmur of Starlings
Beautiful images. I'd love to see one of those huge flocks. WE do get a much smaller flock that roost under Battersea Bridge. They seem to have adjusted their numbers so that just a 'bridgefull' arrive. THey are in hundreds rather than thousands, but lovely to watch as they dive in small groups under the arches. I went down on the foreshore one day a saw that the first arrivals took the corners and as more arrived they parked next to birds already there until the line was full. I keep trying to get some decent video 
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06-11-2011, 08:34 AM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Tranent (nr Edinburgh)
Posts: 148
| | | Re: Murmur of Starlings
It truly is an amazing sight, the way they move as one, I've often wondered how they do it, who takes the lead, and how do the others know to follow almost instantly? |
06-11-2011, 09:39 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: n.e.somerset
Posts: 3,217
| | | Re: Murmur of Starlings
Certainly a grand spectacle.Some very nice shots...
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06-11-2011, 10:49 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: London
Posts: 4,913
| | | Re: Murmur of Starlings
Very nice Colin. 
This is one wildlife spectacle that I just have to see one day. We have much smaller flocks. Nice to watch in their own way. But this one looks amazing.
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06-11-2011, 01:34 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: near Cambridge
Posts: 2,005
| | | Re: Murmur of Starlings
Nice shots Colin
I haven't been along to see them this year yet but have spent many happy Autumn evenings watching the Starling flocks at Fen Drayton over the last 30+ years - it's a sight that I never tire of.
Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets) |
06-11-2011, 04:15 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 2,982
| | | Re: Murmur of Starlings
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hedera  Fantastic formations! One of nature's wonders.
I learnt a line or two of T.S.Eliot years ago:
"as a murmuration of starlings
Over wolds unwittingly weave" as an example of alliteration - we used to see them more often then. | Lovely photos and an amazing spectacle.
"Alliterations artful aids" H G Wells, the history of Mr Polly ( a lovely book, part of Wells at his best).
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06-11-2011, 06:10 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Hayling Island
Posts: 152
| | | Re: Murmur of Starlings
What a wonderful sight! and great pictures too. |
07-11-2011, 11:26 AM
| | New Member | | Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 8
| | | Re: Murmur of Starlings
Great pics.
There's a video that was in the news last week shot by two girls canoeing in Ireland. I'm sure lots will have seen it but for those that haven't Murmuration on Vimeo | | | |
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