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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;
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.
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 responses to “A Murmuration”
Autumn’s darker side, yes?
Yep 🙂 Thanks, Cynthia
Beautiful images, even in the gloom. So much rain. Take care out there.
Many thanks, Miriam
I agree😊
Thanks, msw
Wow dark and pretty! Love it
Thanks a lot, Lynn
Murmuration love to watch it and love the word!
Many thanks, Maria
Me too!
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.
Thanks very much, Pauline. I trust your weather has calmed down
Yes, thank you Derrick. The quakes seem to have abated for now and we even have early summer weather to enjoy 🙂
🙂
It’s rained here now for the best part of 24 hours with very little respite. Perhaps we’ve both had the same lot of rain.
I imagine so, John. We are expecting gales tonight
The poor weather hasn’t hindered your ability to take excellent photos, Derrick.
Many thanks, GP. Hopefully keeping to my aim of recording the day.
Beautiful! I am envious of the rain.
Thank you, Leslie. Wish we could send you some
I discovered recently that starlings are not native to the USA but were introduced from Europe by the Victorian Shakespeare enthusiasts. They’ve thrived!
Thanks a lot, Osyth
Please send some of that moisture across the Atlantic…we have been so dry here. ☺
Thanks, Van. I wish you some
Terrific post.
Thank you, Sherry
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.
Many thanks, Merril
The puddle in the first sequence looks like an abstract painting. Lovely.
Many thanks, Susanne
Okay, am I the only one who sees a cat’s face in the first grouping, last photo? Wow! Amazing shots, Derrick.
Well seen, Jill. Not the only one now – I’ve seen it. Thanks very much
I see it too!
Great shots.
I always think it should be a screecheration of starlings. Not what I’d call a murmur.
Thanks a lot, Leslie
Moody blues and greys–onset of winter rains, I presume and so it is here. Enjoyed these.
Thank you, Cynthia. Nice comment
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
Many thanks, Jodie. Amazing video
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.
perfect title.
Many thanks, Candice
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
Thanks, Brian. I’ve seen cockatoos arriving nightly to fill a tree in Perth. Wish I could send you some rain.
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.
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.
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
Brian, you are hereby admitted to my growing team of poof redders. The answer to the wine tasting assumption is contained in this post: https://derrickjknight.com/2012/10/10/oiling-the-lion/
First time I’ve ever been admitted as a poof, been called several things in my life, now I can be called one that I wasn’t exactly aiming for
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.
We’ll check it out, Geoff. Thanks
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.
Thanks very much, Robin
It’s amazing how beautiful a rainy day can be, especially when the photographer searches out the beauty. My favorite is the waterlogged leaves.
Thanks very much, Nicki
Wow, those trees look completely different today!
Great capture of those starlings too😉
Many thanks, Jenny
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…
Many thanks, Quercus
What a fabulous photo tour in image and page design! And the “murmuration” – MAGNIFICENT!
Very many thanks, seedbud
What a great capture of the flying bird photo! Beautiful post, Derrick!
Thanks very much, Amy
Love the title of this post
Thank you, Sylvie. It was a happy one 🙂
Wonderful description, wonderful photo!
Many thanks, Laurie
These are all amazing but some are really drop dead gorgeous! Thanks for sharing. I absolutely love the shots on water
the photos were AMAZING!!! gosh! i’m using one as my wallpaper!
That’s lovely. Thanks DLF
These are gorgeous! And they make me want to write more! Thank you for making these!
Thank you, Jay. I’m pleased to offer inspiration
Beautiful! We haven’t had a real rain for ages, which is very unusual. Makes me suspicious – what might the rest of the winter bring?
Thanks, Inese. All will be revealed
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.
Thanks, Ellen. Apparently they overwinter here from northern Europe
And the ones that summer here move south. What an odd arrangement.
[…] Outside Roger Cobb’s farmhouse on the coast road, a string of starlings seemed prepared to take off on a murmuration. […]