In Search of a Murmuration

 It was an early start this morning...

This was the invite from Joyce... "Starling Murmurations – Lackford Lakes IP28 6HX (free to park)  is the place to see this spectacular sight. You will need to be there about 3.30pm in the afternoon and they will roost about 4pm. I am hoping to see the lift off on Wednesday morning 8th December. 

Currently the forecast looks clear for Wednesday morning so I am going for it and if it changes I’ll message you on the morning. You can drive down the road to Lackford Lakes and park outside the gates or you can park in Lackford village near the post box IP28 6HR and walk with me over to the reserve…..quietly.  I usually bring a flask of coffee, torch,  a newspaper to sit on and warm clothing as we could be waiting up to 50 minutes. They take off in the 50 minute window before sunrise 7.05am-7.55am. I’ll be parking , quietly, in Lackford village at 6.50am" .

William came home yesterday, so he joined us. We arrived first and I parked where O knew was the right place, but couldn't see the postbox in the dark. We were soon joined by Joyce and then Miranda and we set off at 6:50 along the path with our torches showing the way. At Lackford Church we met up with Andrew, so there were 5 of us in all. We passed the Visitor Centre...

...and stopped at the viewing area a short way along the path overlooking the reeds.

We were glad of our coffee to keep us warm as we watched and waited while the light slowly grew and colour began to appear.

We could hear a few birdcalls and saw a few individual warblers fly up from the reeds and a few geese overhead.

But, alas, no mass of starlings, just a couple of small groups, like this one in the distance.

As we headed back past the visitor centre we met the ranger, who looked a little surprised to see us. When Joyce said we had come hoping to see the starlings, he told us they had moved away over the last week.

We headed back to the village....

...with the sun now coming up.

Never mind. Next year perhaps they will be back. But it was still nice to watch the day begin at the lakes. Thank-you Joyce for inviting us to it.