Have you seen a starling murmuration? A murmuration is the name given to the swooping displays made by starlings just before they come into roost. Last winter we were treated to a fabulous display at RSPB Otmoor, and as this is the perfect time of year to see them we decided it was time for a revisit.
On our previous trip to Otmoor we made a mistake and arrived way too early. It was a freezing cold day and we spent a long time standing around in frozen mud trying to keep warm. The wait was worth it though as we were treated to spectacular murmurations.
This year we set off later. It had rained all day but as we negotiated the traffic delight of Oxford’s ring road the blue skies appeared. Surely a signal.
We duly arrived at the car park, put on our wellies and started the 20 minute walk to the viewing point near the reed beds. A couple of small groups of starlings flew overhead and as we walked we were treated to the most amazing sunset.
Otmoor sunset
Perhaps this should have been an indicator that we were a little on the late side arriving this year. Nevertheless, we joined several other bird watchers at the shelter and proceeded to wait for the starlings. And we waited.
A few minutes later a couple of the group started to walk back and we overheard that the starlings had already put on their display for the day. This was disappointing news to us, and to the people next to us who had driven for 1.5 hours to see them!
Many bird watchers have visited my blog over the last couple of weeks to find out what time the starlings roost. At the end of November it was around 3.40pm. About 10 minutes before we arrived.
Were we disappointed? A little. We hadn’t seen the starlings but we were treated to the most amazing sunset. And there’s something magical walking back through a nature reserve in the dark!
If you’re interested in other posts about local nature reserves you might also enjoy reading about moth spotting at Neptune Wood or orchid hunting at Warburg Nature Reserve. Alternatively locals and visitors alike might enjoy my post about things to do in Oxford.
More info:
- Further details about Otmoor reserve can be found here.
Those skies are stunning, I do love a clear winter’s day, lovely to be outside in the country. Popping over from What’s the Story
Thanks Fiona. The reserve is just on the outskirts of Oxford but it feels a million miles away from the city.
Ah what a shame that you missed the starlings but glad that sunset made up for it – just stunning #whatsthestory
Thanks Louise. It’s even more impressive given that it had near enough rained the entire day!
It is amazing to see starlings when they fly like this, I’ve only seen it a couple of times, but it is incredible. Sorry you missed them, but that is a stunning sunset x #WhatstheStory
Thanks Sara. We have a row of ‘starling trees’ (where they go to roost) in our town and even though there aren’t as many birds as at the reserve they are still pretty impressive.
Those skies photos are so worth the trip already! Sorry about missing what you went there for and on the bright side you know the details that you can use next time you go again. Again those skies. Amazing. #whatsthestory
Thanks Merlinda. Yes, the sky definitely made up for the lack of birds.
Hi ChistiNe, stunning pictures! We used to see starlings fly like that often where I grew up and it was amazing! It was like a cloud of starlings that instinctively moved as one…I was lucky enough to witness the swallows gather and start their long migration together a few weeks back and that too was amazing.
Literally hundreds of swallows had gathered together on the telephone cables where they sat for a while, before suddenly taking to the skies in one large cloud, moving as one and heading off into the distance…..I am guessing that was the start of their long journey as it was about the beginning of October and we only saw stragglers after that….(I kick myself for not having had my camera on me!).
Thank you. That must have been an amazing sight, I’d have loved to see it!
They sky just wasn’t what you expected, but your photos of the sunset are amazing.
Thank you, glad you like them.
Those skies are just stunning! A shame you missed the starlings, but it looked like the walk was worth it anyway… x
Thanks Sophie. Yes, it was, always good to get out and enjoy the ‘wild’.
What fabulous photos. Worth going just to see the sky. We see the starlings murmurations around here. Especially if we are down on the Levels. Children always spot them when I’m driving, so I usually miss the best ones…apparently!
Ah yes, it’s like that when I’m driving too! There’s usually a deer in a field we’re driving by or something.
It’s such a shame that you didn’t see the birds, but your views of the sunset are totally stunning.
Thanks Lucy. Yes the sunset was incredible.
Oh no – how sad you miss3ed them. There used to be huge murmurations in Newcastle when I lived there (not sure if they are still there) and we also see them in the fields near us here in Normandy, if you are passing at the right time. It really is a magical sight so I do hope you get to see it sometime soon.
Thanks Rosie. We usually have smaller ones in our town too but I haven’t seen them this year yet.
What a shame you missed the starlings… fabulous sunset pictures though x
Thanks Izzie. At least I’ll know to go earlier next time.
What a pity about the starlings but I am sure your trip was worth it if only for those beautiful skies. Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo 🙂 x
Such a shame! Wildlife is never predictable. It looks like you still had a lovely time though x
#countrykids
Beautiful, beautiful sunset, and yes, sounds magical to be out, walking back after that. But still haven’t worked out why the kids are upside down?!
Ahem, that may have been a minor editing issue! It looks fine on my mobile and iPad but I’ve just checked it on a laptop and they were upside down. No idea how I managed that, it was nothing to do with watching a sunset upside down 🙂
Er, and now it appears fine on my laptop and upside down on my phone so I’ve given up and deleted it altogether!