Starling numbers increasing

 07/11/2026 06:50 to 11:00

I arrived in time to see the Starlings leaving the roost in the reed bed and numbers have increased significantly. It very difficult to gauge the numbers but the birds left in two large groups. The first group was the largest and most of it is in the photo below. 

I asked AI to estimate the number from the photo and it came back with 7,500 as its best guess. The second group was smaller but was probably 3 to 4,000 birds so I'm estimating 10K but it was probably a bit higher.

There was no murmuration when i went in the evening last week but it probably more likely as the numbers increase.

Starling leaving the roost

Two male Pochard flew in mid-morning, they are a scarce bird here so always nice to see..

Common Pochard - drakes

Just over 200 Lapwing this morning and they were joined by several groups of Golden Plover which totalled 146 birds.

There were still plent of Fieldfare around, I estimated 750, many were feeding in the hawthorns below the dam and I could hear several Brambling in the same area. 

Jon counted the Starlings coming to roost this evening and estimated the numbers at 70k which is a huge increase with birds gathering in the bushes below the dam wall before heading to the reeds to roost. Still no signs on any prolonged murmuration prior to roosting.