A Murmuration

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An underground problem with installation of the new phone line required further attention today. This necessitated a visit from another engineer who completed the task.

Jackie then drove us around the forest in a very wet late afternoon.

Much rain has fallen during our weekend away. Familiar pools have returned to the forest floor.

The moorland in the rain took on a dramatic aspect as the clouds unloaded their precipitation.

Between Brockenhurst and Beaulieu, the River Lymington has burst its banks.

Sunset is early at this time of the year;

Sunset over Hatchet Pond

it is a reflection of the different light today that this is the same clump of trees beside Hatchet Pond that I photographed at virtually the same time from a slightly different angle yesterday.

A murmuration of starlings

As we waited at the level crossing on the approach to Lymington, an elliptical disc that was a murmuration of starlings slid around the skies.

This evening we dined on roast lamb with roast potatoes and crunchy carrots and cauliflower. I drank Clervigny Arbois, 2014

79 comments

  1. Such a difference in the two photos of Hatchet Pond Derrick – it just shows what 24 hours can do doesn’t it!! Love the murmuration of starlings – it’s such a wonderful appellation, and photo too.

  2. I discovered recently that starlings are not native to the USA but were introduced from Europe by the Victorian Shakespeare enthusiasts. They’ve thrived!

  3. Such beautiful photos, Derrick! Hatchett Pond with another light is still a wonderful shot. The murmuration (I love that word!) photo looks so delicate–watercolor like.

  4. Derrick – I know what murmuration means because I looked up the phenomenon years ago. It happens at certain times of the year around here (South Jersey, USA). I am just now understanding that is unique to starlings – I had never realized that. It is stunning to see – like a school of fish darting together in unison. I love this video – it really shows what it feels like to witness such a thing. https://youtu.be/iRNqhi2ka9k

      1. Isn’t that video so cool? You can tell how psyched the girls were to be a witness to it. It’s crazy around here when it happens – often when I am driving down the road – they just zoom up and over me – So wild.

  5. All that lovely rain would be very welcome here; we need it badly. Bush fire season is upon us already.
    Starlings are considered a pest in Western Australia; as are sparrows. (In fact the only sparrows you’ll see in WA are dead ones)
    http://birdlife.org.au/projects/starlings-in-western-australia.
    What you will see here inflight, and in great numbers, are Lorikeets, Galahs & Cockatoos the noise is horrendous; but the sight is glorious

      1. You’ve been to Perth? A lovely city, I went for a couple of months in 66 to the west and stayed 8 years; although I’ve probably mentioned this on seveal occassions.
        Did you get out to the bush and see the magnificent Wedgetail Eagles? Your camera would have been working overtie with them.

        1. My youngest son’s wife hails from Perth. We stayed with her parents in 2007 and went on to Margaret River for the wedding. Didn’t get out into the bush because Louisa and Errol, with me, had their eldest in a buggy then. We stayed a week each in Melbourne and Sidney.

      2. Grrrrrrrrrr it’s SYDNEY with 2 “y”,s
        I assume you tried a few of the wines when at Margaret River; they have quite a reputation for their fine wines, one features prominantly in the House of Lords; at least it used to; it was a white Burgundy if memory serves correctly

  6. Forest in the rain evokes many memories of scout hikes and cross country runs. The open area at Long Slade Bottom filled regularly from memory. I wonder if it does now. On the far side of the old railway embankment.

  7. Wow, Derrick. The puddles with reflections are gorgeous! I enjoyed the single tree, it reminded me of how trees show character in their silhouettes.
    The migration of the starlings in a pattern becoming a “murmuration” was an amazing photo, as well as introducing me to a new word! 🙂 Thank you, Derrick.

  8. It’s amazing how beautiful a rainy day can be, especially when the photographer searches out the beauty. My favorite is the waterlogged leaves.

  9. Great photos again – very atmospheric – I now feel cold and damp. Great picture of the starlings, I don’t remember the last time I saw a big flock, like everything else they seem to be fading away…

  10. Starlings are amazing, aren’t they? There’s an area near us where they roost in the winter. We haven’t been for a couple of years but should really stop by soon to watch them come in to roost.

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