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Despite a brief thaw early in the week, it's remained very cold at the reserve here in Somerset and it's giving the wildlife a tough time of it. Groups of wildfowl have congregated in areas in front of the first viewing platform and within the Waltons section and kept some of the water, ice free...

I have seen lots more this year than last year. They make sure that I am up in the morning squabbling the food on the feeding station & the tree.

Well it's certainly been a colder week, with snow on Monday and temperatures on Friday as I arrived at work at 8.30am as low as minus 7. So not surprisingly, large areas of the reserve have iced up and large numbers of water fowl are gathered in the unfrozen areas. The best places for viewing these...

Here's the species list for Ham Wall for the month of January 2012: Short Eared Owl, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Bittern, Little Egret, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal...

Hi have any of the group had problems with starlings over the watch weekend?. We have a large tree on the far side of the school playing field at the end of our garden, this is used as a lookout by a group of up to 50 Starlings, as soon as a small bird goes on the feeders we can get up to 30 descend...

The two events showcasing Somersets world beating wildlife have proved so popular that the RSPB has added extra dates. There are new, additional opportunities to see the Avalon Marshes Starlings explode out of their reedbed roost at dawn and to see Somrset's newest residents the Cranes of the Somerset...

Starlings! No shortage of them in this part of County Durham. I stopped counting at 62 with more arriving, and they stripped the bird table within seconds. A bit unnerving, if I'm honest, and sad to see the smaller birds leave.

Wow, at 5 o'clock this evening witnessed a flock of starlings swoop around for 7 or 8 minutes before decending about 50 to 100 at a time into a small hawthorn bush near where I live. My wife and I watched from the car as the bush was near the road on which we live. We roughly counted about 300. ...

We also live facing open farmed countryside . We thought that when moving here 5 years ago the area would provide us with views of many wild birds, but this has proved to be the opposite. In the city of Nottingham the gardens have wild birds, foxes and even squirrels. Here we don't see any sparrows...

My garden isn't at the back of my house, it is over a yard/drive and round a corner, so I have to actually be in it to count. What's more the garden is big so I can only see so much of it at anyone time, so when I sit further down the one end, the birds don't come in so much, as I put them...

Just submitted my garden bird survey and found this chat group! Hello to the all the others out there fascinated by the wonderful world of nature that we can see even in the back garden. I look forward being part of your community. Forgive me for wanting to share this with you immediately .. Last...

Plenty to report once again this week I'm pleased to say with lots of interesting sightings! The Yellow Browed Warbler is still present and often seen at the same location as before - the first wooden No Entry gate along the footpath side of the main drain, by the wood. It's often seen with other...

Hi all, I'll be honest, my knowledge of feathers is limited! I can tell a peacock from a magpie, and a buzzard from an owl but I'm no expert, although I am very fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful friends who keep me company in the garden and around the croft. I count amongst my friends...

We live in a new build house (built 2009) but our garden has really started to mature with the leylandii, cherry trees, magnolia and other shrubs starting to take form and providing a lot of protective cover for the birds. We have situated a bird table, feeding station, fresh water and various hanging...

It's been another mild week and many people are reporting 'mini dawn choruses' on their local patches and on the reserve. Robins & blackbirds are particularly vocal in the mornings but Dunnock, Wren, Great Tit and Blue Tit are all joining in. Song Thrush has been heard on the reserve...

A Starling Exhibition of photographs and canvasses by local resident Anne Henderson will be on display at Somerset Crafts, at The Avalon Marshes Centre on Shapwick Road, Westhay BA6 9TT from January 14th until February 27th. Call 01458 860426 for further information. Come and see the exhibition and...

The RSPB is running 4 special events to witness one of Britain's best natural phenomenons. As many of you know, it can be quite difficult to track down the starling roost due to their unpredictable nature but these events can take that unpredictability away and guarantee the spectacle. Obviously...

Despite some very wet and windy weather conditions this week, there have been some good sightings to report. A Yellow-browed Warbler was spotted on three consecutive days this week Mon-Weds and although no reports as yet form yesterday this doesn't mean it's not still present. If you want to...

I used to think they were pesky, but after watching these characters for some time now I realise they just simply want our respect...

Coming home from work approaching dusk. Something caught my eye above. Thousands of starlings were weaving and diving in a spectacular fashion. Large and small flocks continued to join the mass. People around were oblivious to this aerobatic display

Coming home from work approaching dusk. Something caught my eye above. Thousands of starlings were weaving and diving in a spectacular fashion. Large and small flocks continued to join the mass. People around were oblivious to this aerobatic display

More Starlings above Crewe a truly memorable sight which you cannot help return to see again.

Another of The Starlings above Crewe Town Centre. Simply amazing.

Walking the Eastbourne seafront late on a February afternoon, we suddenly saw the dance of the starlings - swirling, shifting, endless patterns pale against the pink sky, dark against the sea. Entranced, the icy wind forgotten, we stood to marvel.

Here's a couple of newly fledged starlings. I saw these in my garden in the spring of 2008. They certainly brought a smile to my face.

Here's a couple of newly fledged starlings. I saw these in my garden in the spring of 2008. They certainly brought a smile to my face.

Walking across a field in the twilght, on a very still evening, there was a sudden sound of wind in the air as hundreds of starlings flew over on their way to roost. - a purr of wings coming from nowhere and vanishing just as quickly