Yesterday evening in good light I went to check on the murmuration, it has declined in size and continues to favour the Titchmarsh side of the reserve rather than the reed beds around the second hide towards the Elinor Fishery.
The murmuration seems to have split and was using two reed bed on the Aldwincle side of Brancey Brook as viewed from the little wooden bridge ( see reserve map ).
It will be interesting to see how things develop as winter draws on and colder weather prevails.
Showing posts with label Titchmarsh murmuration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Titchmarsh murmuration. Show all posts
Saturday, 13 December 2014
Friday, 5 December 2014
The Titchmarsh Murmuration - update 05.12.14
Sunset
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Every time I view this spectacle it differs, no two times are the same.
This evening the sky was cloudless and the the birds started arriving about 3.45 but never really formed a condensed murmuration.
Currently, the birds seem to be favouring and are best viewed from the Titchmarsh side of the reserve ( from the Aldwincle car park turn left on entering the reserve, through Titchmarsh wood and walk up the meadow along the mown path until approximately fifty meters short of the wooden bench ), the birds are dropping into the reed beds in front of you, also keep an eye behind you as they are using the reed beds across the river back towards Aldwincle.
As always Sparrowhawks were in attendance.
It was all over by 4.15.
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Full Moon on the rise.jpg)
This evening the sky was cloudless and the the birds started arriving about 3.45 but never really formed a condensed murmuration.
Currently, the birds seem to be favouring and are best viewed from the Titchmarsh side of the reserve ( from the Aldwincle car park turn left on entering the reserve, through Titchmarsh wood and walk up the meadow along the mown path until approximately fifty meters short of the wooden bench ), the birds are dropping into the reed beds in front of you, also keep an eye behind you as they are using the reed beds across the river back towards Aldwincle.
As always Sparrowhawks were in attendance.
It was all over by 4.15.
Full Moon on the rise
Monday, 24 November 2014
Titchmarsh murmuration update 24.11.14
Great late afternoon light today, good numbers of birds in the flocks but for some reason the murmuration dropped down into the roosts fairly early on arrival before being fully formed.
I was speaking with Andy Howe and there appears to be some mileage, based on recent observations, that the murmurations stay airborne for longer in overcast conditions, no science in this thought other than experience.
Tonight I again turned left on arrival at the reserve from the Aldwincle reserve car park and walked up the meadow toward the wooden bridge, better low horizons give more warning of the movement of sparrowhawks, but that does not make them easy to photograph I can assure you !.
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I was speaking with Andy Howe and there appears to be some mileage, based on recent observations, that the murmurations stay airborne for longer in overcast conditions, no science in this thought other than experience.
Tonight I again turned left on arrival at the reserve from the Aldwincle reserve car park and walked up the meadow toward the wooden bridge, better low horizons give more warning of the movement of sparrowhawks, but that does not make them easy to photograph I can assure you !.
The shape of the flock below reminds me of the profile of a Sparrowhawk in flight, the very birds hawking the murmuration ..... or is my Imagination getting a bit hyperactive ?.
Sunday, 23 November 2014
The Titchmarsh Murmuration - update 23.11.14
An alternative viewing point that I tried this evening.
On going down to the reserve from the Aldwincle car park turn left instead of right, through Titchmarsh Wood, through another kissing gate and up along the mown meadow path until you are in sight of the wooden bench ahead of you on the left of the path.
Benefits - less muddy, open horizon and a far more attractive view to silhouette the birds against especially after the sun has set and the sky is clear of clouds.
The forecast for tomorrow, Monday 24th, looks quite good.
On going down to the reserve from the Aldwincle car park turn left instead of right, through Titchmarsh Wood, through another kissing gate and up along the mown meadow path until you are in sight of the wooden bench ahead of you on the left of the path.
Benefits - less muddy, open horizon and a far more attractive view to silhouette the birds against especially after the sun has set and the sky is clear of clouds.
The forecast for tomorrow, Monday 24th, looks quite good.
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Titchmarsh Murmuration update ...... 19.11.14
Still images just do not do justice to this nightly spectacle but certainly give an indication of the size of the murmuration.
I have been viewing this occurrence two or three times a week for some time now, this evening was the first time that the majority of birds used a different reed bed, I think the one on the pit side of the wooden bridge on the Titchmarsh side of the reserve.
Eyesight alone is all that you really need to use to capture the morphing of the birds into a myriad of liquid shapes and forms.
If you do visit please keep an eye out for the local Sparrowhawks chasing the birds.
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I have been viewing this occurrence two or three times a week for some time now, this evening was the first time that the majority of birds used a different reed bed, I think the one on the pit side of the wooden bridge on the Titchmarsh side of the reserve.
Eyesight alone is all that you really need to use to capture the morphing of the birds into a myriad of liquid shapes and forms.
If you do visit please keep an eye out for the local Sparrowhawks chasing the birds.
Monday, 10 November 2014
The Titchmarsh Murmuration continues to develop
As the reedbeds and therefore the Starling murmuration are very close I replaced my 420mm lens combination with an 18-135 zoom.
This evening the light was perfect, a cloudless sky kept the birds in the air '' murmuring ''
for longer than usual.
As far as stills shots are concerned the results are acceptable but never capture the liquid movement of the birds that a video can achieve.
The downside when you only have one camera body with you is that when an alternative opportunity presents itself it creates the '' wrong lens '' syndrome, this was certainly the case when one of the marauding Sparrowhawks captured its supper.
Another opportunity that will hopefully present itself as a result of being on the reserve at sunset could be the appearance of the local Barn Owls .... watch this space !.
A friend of mine and locally based naturalist and Videographer, Graham Barker took some excellent video footage of theTitchmarsh murmuration the other evening, the following link takes you to his web site.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8EVX0S6zx8&list=UUdnkA291eJwVwxPOpqI8bnA
Worlds fail me in trying to do justice to the physical presence, sight and sound of the experience.
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This evening the light was perfect, a cloudless sky kept the birds in the air '' murmuring ''
for longer than usual.
As far as stills shots are concerned the results are acceptable but never capture the liquid movement of the birds that a video can achieve.
The downside when you only have one camera body with you is that when an alternative opportunity presents itself it creates the '' wrong lens '' syndrome, this was certainly the case when one of the marauding Sparrowhawks captured its supper.
Another opportunity that will hopefully present itself as a result of being on the reserve at sunset could be the appearance of the local Barn Owls .... watch this space !.
A friend of mine and locally based naturalist and Videographer, Graham Barker took some excellent video footage of theTitchmarsh murmuration the other evening, the following link takes you to his web site.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8EVX0S6zx8&list=UUdnkA291eJwVwxPOpqI8bnA
Worlds fail me in trying to do justice to the physical presence, sight and sound of the experience.
Wrong lens - heavily cropped record shot of a Sparrowhawk disappearing with its supper.
Monday, 3 November 2014
Titchmarsh Murmuration ..... the video
A friend of mine and locally based naturalist and Videographer, Graham Barker took some excellent video footage of theTitchmarsh murmuration the other evening, the following link takes you to his web site.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8EVX0S6zx8&list=UUdnkA291eJwVwxPOpqI8bnA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8EVX0S6zx8&list=UUdnkA291eJwVwxPOpqI8bnA
Friday, 31 October 2014
The Titchmarsh Murmuration - Part two ..................
I returned late afternoon about twenty minutes before sunset with a more appropriate lens to see what images I could capture of the murmuration.
The build up of birds was quite quick over a fifteen minute period with small and large parties of additional birds arriving from all quarters, unlike last eve quite a large proportion of the flock went to roost fairly quickly, amazing to see them dropping into the reed beds.
When the flock passed overhead the sound of the air flowing over the wings of so many birds was phenomenal as was the noise from the reed beds when the roost was full just before I left.
A friend of mine and Kettering based naturalist and videographer Graham Barker took some excellent video footage which can be seen via the following link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8EVX0S6zx8&list=UUdnkA291eJwVwxPOpqI8bnA
An early gathering
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Getting better
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The build up of birds was quite quick over a fifteen minute period with small and large parties of additional birds arriving from all quarters, unlike last eve quite a large proportion of the flock went to roost fairly quickly, amazing to see them dropping into the reed beds.
When the flock passed overhead the sound of the air flowing over the wings of so many birds was phenomenal as was the noise from the reed beds when the roost was full just before I left.
A friend of mine and Kettering based naturalist and videographer Graham Barker took some excellent video footage which can be seen via the following link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8EVX0S6zx8&list=UUdnkA291eJwVwxPOpqI8bnA
An early gathering
Getting better
Quite a dense formation
A stream of birds dropping in ......
And a fine sunset to finish the experience
The Titchmarsh murmuration and a picture book finish to the day.
No Barn Owls again this evening, what a mild day for the end of October and the cloudless sky provided superb light.
Never mind, there was a spectacular aerial show taking place overhead instead.
I have never seen so many starlings in the Titchmarsh reed bed roost and winter has yet to arrive.
My telephoto lens could not do the sight justice as I was only able to get images of a small segment of the action, to truly capture the kaleidoscopic nature of this event video is the only medium to portray the liquid movement of the birds as they morph into different shapes and patterns.
p.s. I plan to go back tonight with a more appropriate lens.
To see some stunning video footage go to U-tube and punch in starling murmurations.
The final image sums up the scene, the setting sun low to the horizon reflecting off the water of the gravel pit viewed through a dense patch of reeds ...... perfect !.
A friend of mine and Kettering based naturalist and videographer Graham Barker took some excellent video footage which can be seen via the following link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8EVX0S6zx8&list=UUdnkA291eJwVwxPOpqI8bnA
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Never mind, there was a spectacular aerial show taking place overhead instead.
I have never seen so many starlings in the Titchmarsh reed bed roost and winter has yet to arrive.
My telephoto lens could not do the sight justice as I was only able to get images of a small segment of the action, to truly capture the kaleidoscopic nature of this event video is the only medium to portray the liquid movement of the birds as they morph into different shapes and patterns.
p.s. I plan to go back tonight with a more appropriate lens.
To see some stunning video footage go to U-tube and punch in starling murmurations.
The final image sums up the scene, the setting sun low to the horizon reflecting off the water of the gravel pit viewed through a dense patch of reeds ...... perfect !.
A friend of mine and Kettering based naturalist and videographer Graham Barker took some excellent video footage which can be seen via the following link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8EVX0S6zx8&list=UUdnkA291eJwVwxPOpqI8bnA
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