22,000 Starlings...

[laser_jock99]

...well that's my estimate of the number of birds in this flock. This is becoming a nightly nature spectacular here in Rugby as thousands of the birds flock to the roost near the railway station. Appologies for the graininess of the pictures but roosting takes place at about 5:00pm so I was shooting at ISO 3200 even at f2.8 to keep the exposures short. The photo's were taken leaning out of the office window with a 300mm f2.8 lens from about a mile away!

#1 the birds start to gather.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/Nature%20and%20Wildlife/Rugby%20Starlings/Dscf3067.jpg

#2 the flock begins to tighten
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/Nature%20and%20Wildlife/Rugby%20Starlings/Dscf3081.jpg

#3Ariel acrobatics
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/Nature%20and%20Wildlife/Rugby%20Starlings/Dscf3103.jpg

#4 Buzzing the station
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/Nature%20and%20Wildlife/Rugby%20Starlings/Dscf3146.jpg

#5 Descent to the roost
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/Nature%20and%20Wildlife/Rugby%20Starlings/Dscf3345.jpg

More flocking photot's here:
http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/Nature%20and%20Wildlife/Rugby%20Starlings/





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[Ladybird]

:eek: Cool!


(not just a mucky sensor then? :p) :D

[kfridge]

I've seen this happen on the TV, never in real life unfortunatley as it does look very impressive...

good shots considering the difficult conditions! Start saving for the F1 lens :naughty: if such a thing exisits :thinking::shrug:

[grumpybadger]

Cracking sequence. Shame about the urban background but a truly magnificent sight.

[dazzajl]

that's an amazing sight. pretty cool to get some images of it at all from that time of day.

[Venomator]

Great series of one of nature's special spectacles ... :thumbs ... excellent takes ... :clap:



Ps ... are you sure it's not 22,013 ... :suspect:




:p

[laser_jock99]

Shame about the urban background.

I'm hoping to sneak off early at some point and catch the roost from a different angle- maybe with the setting sun in the background?

[jeangenie]

Wow - what an incredible sight. But don't they know the trains are up the creek and they'd be better flying home :shrug:

btw, I think the industrial skyline adds to the sequence. I just wonder where they're all roosting and how noisy it must be in the morning when they all wake up and start looking for breakfast :D

Thanks for sharing

[Shogun]

I believe about 10.000 turn up at Martin Mere each night about 4pm. Must try & get there to see.

[lifethrualens]

ok got it got it, ive counted them, hang on, forget, give us a minute:bonk:

[hairy]

Quite a spectacle to see; and makes you wonder just how they don't crash into each other.
Nature really is amazing.

[Joe T]

Wow!

[Vinny]

Amazing - love the last picture. It is actually 22,002 :D

[Richard T]

superb! thanks for sharing

[Gerods]

Where I live we were treated to that every night, as the Starlings came roost on the road bridge. The local council estimated that there was a 1/4 million birds roosting over night on the bridge. Magnificent to watch, but a nightmare to drive under.

[tim]

phew! Imagine cleaning your car after that!!