There have been the strangest of clouds wafting over Wattlebury recently. A pair of Unicorn horns drifted past on Monday and the strangest of creatures have taken shape high in the sky. We have had a predominant easterly wind for well over a week now. Could that be the reason?
And today a rowdy group of teenage Starlings descended on the bird table at Wattlebury Cottage. With bodies grown-up, but heads still young, their spotty mis-matched coats look very bizarre. At this age they keep together in flocks, not pairing off in the first year, but living in adolescent communities until next April or May. In a month's time we should see them flock together in huge numbers - the murmuration - although because Firgus has cut down the big trees - they will have to find somewhere else to roost! Many of the smaller birds appear at the food table at the same time. Chaos! Sparrows, chaffinches, tits on the feeders - a real example of safety in numbers.
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Starlings have been observed feeding on fermenting over-ripe fruit, which has led to the speculation that they might become intoxicated by the alcohol. Perhaps this wild and rather raucous visitation this morning might have been fuelled by too much fallen autumnal fruit! Gordon xxx