Why do I have just a handful of starlings, none in a flock of any size? They arrive with the sparrows mostly and hang around the garden much of the day, minding their own business and behaving in a most un-starling-like manner. One of them is a baby with a plain buff coloured head, but the others seem fully grown. I have never seen a large roost in the vicinity.
Cheers, Linda.
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Sparrow Why do I have just a handful of starlings, none in a flock of any size? They arrive with the sparrows mostly and hang around the garden much of the day, minding their own business and behaving in a most un-starling-like manner.
Why do I have just a handful of starlings, none in a flock of any size? They arrive with the sparrows mostly and hang around the garden much of the day, minding their own business and behaving in a most un-starling-like manner.
They've probably worked out that you're a nice friendly food source and have made your garden their 'patch'. I read somewhere that starlings tend to visit the same place at the start and end of the day, where they know there's a regular supply of food, and do their exploring in between. The gang...er...group I have here seem to fit that pattern.That's stage 1. Stage 2 involves them heckling you when you're out in the garden - either whistling from the tree or landing on a nearby branch/fence/gutter and making squawking noises. Stage 3 they start waddling across the lawn towards you in a group and trying to nick the cheese/polony/grapes you're feeding to the blackbird!Great birds - plenty of character...and nerve! There used to be a flock of several hundred that I would see over the winter from my window a few years ago in the evening, but that has dwindled away.
Highland McHaleI have had a go at a video of the Corvid roost in my home village, please understand the size is such that my poor little camera struggles to do it justice!
Highland McHaleAs the days get colder their numbers will go up and the time to warm up lasts longer!
Its taken a wee while but I'm catching back up with myself!! Sorry I've reduced the Video down to the limit allowed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40261931@N06
John :-)
For viewing or photography right place right time is everything. I'd rather be in the right place with poor kit than have the best kit and be in the wrong place.
Wow John, that is like something from Hitchcock!! Brilliant. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Sparrow, Its a very noisy place for the next three months first thing and last thing! (no complaint I love it, it makes winter something to look forward to.) Plus the numbers are still growing. I noticed yesterday at Dundee that there is one there too, so maybe there will be less here this year, with them having two choices.
Thanks John, I so enjoyed watching the video. We have only a few hundred here, which make a terrible racket and if you are outside, can halt all conversation. Just can't imagine what it is like when you get thousands, as you do.
Hi guys. Does anyone know if they're still swarming in Otmoor at the moment? I quite fancy taking my other half to Oxford for Valentines day and trying to catch this. Cheers. D.