Starlings over Studland - fantastic

RoseStones · #1 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 06:50 PM

Just a note for those who are in or thinking of going to the Dorset area at any point in the near future. We were on the Studland Peninsula a few weeks ago and after a very enjoyable time watching deer and the resident birds we noticed a large group of starlings swirling over the ferry terminal area right at the end of the peninsula. There's a small area of reeds next to the car park at the ferry terminal where they roost at night, that's where they swoop over just before sundown.

We watched them swooping for a while, right above our heads (wear a hat if you go as they'll probably 'dollop' on you like they did on me!). Then out of nowhere a sparrowhawk appeared and ploughed right into the flock, causing carnage. Shortly after it was all over and we couldn't see if the hawk had caught anything. But a magical experience nevertheless. Well worth a visit.

tameblackbirds · #2 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 07:02 PM

oh wonderful sight experienced the same spectacle once at Radipole over 6 years ago with my young sons they were spell bound by it and still mention it now

you had a wonderful day how lucky

RoseStones · #3 (**permalink**) 09-11-2008, 09:20 PM

yeah, there's certain things in life that I'll not forget and that'll be one of mine too

gess · #4 (**permalink**) 12-11-2008, 06:39 PM

I have never seen this until last night.... and unfortunately only on TV. I was watching "the nature of Britain", Alan Titchmarsh presenting (uktv docs on sky tv). What a fantastic spectacle it was, I would love to see it one day!

Gess

ps for anyone interested its on tonight 9.00pm looking at urban Britain "from Brightons badgers to Glasgow's foxes"

Tracey.A · #5 (**permalink**) 13-11-2008, 08:56 PM

I've seen Starlings swirling and well, the only thing I can liken them to is a beautiful shoal of fish, because their movements are so similar. Anyway I just think they are one of the most stunning, beautiful sights, but I've never seen huge numbers - one day!

Tracey

GuyF · #6 (**permalink**) 22-11-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoseStones

Just a note for those who are in or thinking of going to the Dorset area at any point in the near future. We were on the Studland Peninsula a few weeks ago and after a very enjoyable time watching deer and the resident birds we noticed a large group of starlings swirling over the ferry terminal area right at the end of the peninsula. There's a small area of reeds next to the car park at the ferry terminal where they roost at night, that's where they swoop over just before sundown.

We watched them swooping for a while, right above our heads (wear a hat if you go as they'll probably 'dollop' on you like they did on me!). Then out of nowhere a sparrowhawk appeared and ploughed right into the flock, causing carnage. Shortly after it was all over and we couldn't see if the hawk had caught anything. But a magical experience nevertheless. Well worth a visit.

Thanks for the heads-up Rose, I spent the day over at Studland and decided to wait around in the evening to see the starlings. I'd only ever seen those flocks on the TV before and it was such a spectacular sight in real life. Despite the light I tried taking some photos, if any of them have come out well I'll post them.
Guy

Hedge Witch · #7 (**permalink**) 22-11-2008, 06:15 PM

This is one of nature's phenomena that I'd really love to see. Sounds fantastic.

GuyF · #8 (**permalink**) 23-11-2008, 04:48 PM

Here are some shots of the studland Starlings from yesterday, I'll definetely get back there again over the winter and hopefully get some better shots.

Guy

RoseStones · #9 (**permalink**) 25-11-2008, 09:14 PM

Guy! I'm so pleased for you! That's the first time that someone's benefited from my advice and it makes me feel all warm. The season of goodwill has clearly come early in our house

!

Please spread the news as I'd love everyone to enjoy the spectacle.

Jim

svenrufus · #10 (**permalink**) 25-11-2008, 10:41 PM

Just took my daughter (20 months old) down to Brighton Beach this evening, to see the starlings there doing their thing over the pier. It is quite easy to impress someone that old, but I think it's fair to say she was absolutely gobsmacked by what she saw - and to be fair, so was I.

While I have seen the starlings down over the long derelict West Pier many a time where they would roost overnight, that pier has now sadly crumbled into the sea and what remained burnt down. So the starlings started making more use of our spare pier, the Palace Pier, and so that was where I went. I walked out over the sea and for the first time ever, I was right in the thick of it - starlings to the left, to the right, above and below, coming towards us and flying away, swooping, dipping diving, with a gorgeous sunset over the sea as a backdrop. Absolutely blew my mind, fabulous stuff. I'm not much good at estimating numbers but this was a big display by the standards of what I have seen in my 20 years in Brighton, must have been over 20-30,000 birds there, and more further off.

The Little Girl couldn't contain herself. First of all she was trying to blow them away, but soon realised that wasn't going to work, not enough puff in her little lungs. Then she just didn't know which way to look and everywhere she turned she just had to burst out (in sketchy English) 'More!' and 'Loads', and 'Huge'. Cracked me up. When the starlings went to roost under the pier, I told her they were going to sleep now, and she blew them kisses and told me to 'Shhh!'

We were there for about 40 minutes, and as we left I saw another huge flock over the West Pier about a mile away, looking even more spectacular even at that distance.

What an amazing thing to happen in the middle of a city, truly stunning, truly awe-inspiring. I'll be taking her again, but that is going to be hard to beat.