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The first slim flocks of starlings gather by a muddy river The first slim flocks of starlings gather by a muddy river
(14 days later)
The river Arun has slowed almost to a stop, the bare strip of dried earth along the bank betraying the low water level. Large bunches of dark green weed are exposed. Along the grassy footpath, there are a still a few thistles in bloom, glowing purple in the evening sunshine, but many other thistle heads have now exploded, trailing their down of sticky, spindly white seeds. It’s warm and close, but the breeze is slowly bringing a band of black cloud from the west.The river Arun has slowed almost to a stop, the bare strip of dried earth along the bank betraying the low water level. Large bunches of dark green weed are exposed. Along the grassy footpath, there are a still a few thistles in bloom, glowing purple in the evening sunshine, but many other thistle heads have now exploded, trailing their down of sticky, spindly white seeds. It’s warm and close, but the breeze is slowly bringing a band of black cloud from the west.
Related: Country diary: South Downs, near Arundel: Grey partridges have become a rare sight on the Downs, except here
A train thunders past, down the line towards Arundel, but otherwise the reserve is relatively quiet now. There are still soft “seep” calls from parties of blue tits roving through the trees, and the falling “quack, quack, quack” of the mallards on the muddy pools. A lapwing rises up into the air, tumbles on its paddle-tipped wings and settles down again.A train thunders past, down the line towards Arundel, but otherwise the reserve is relatively quiet now. There are still soft “seep” calls from parties of blue tits roving through the trees, and the falling “quack, quack, quack” of the mallards on the muddy pools. A lapwing rises up into the air, tumbles on its paddle-tipped wings and settles down again.
Small flocks of starlings fly towards me – in numbers of six, a dozen, 20, 30 or more – one by one passing over my head, and downriver to their roost among the trees. They don’t call, but each wave flies over with a “whoosh” sound, as the birds’ little whirring wings push through the air. Now breeding has finished, the numbers of starlings gathering together are building up again, and will rise into the thousands in the coming months.Small flocks of starlings fly towards me – in numbers of six, a dozen, 20, 30 or more – one by one passing over my head, and downriver to their roost among the trees. They don’t call, but each wave flies over with a “whoosh” sound, as the birds’ little whirring wings push through the air. Now breeding has finished, the numbers of starlings gathering together are building up again, and will rise into the thousands in the coming months.
It seems strange watching these flocks gather, but starling numbers have declined by 80% in England since the 1980s alone. It’s thought the loss of suitable foraging areas that provide the invertebrates the starlings eat during breeding – particularly earthworms and leatherjackets – and fewer nesting sites are the likeliest causes. Changes to agricultural practices, including pesticide use, the drainage of pastures and conversion of grassland to arable crops may all be factors. Watching the waves of starlings – named after the star-like speckles on their dark feathers – I wonder if they’ll become rare one day.It seems strange watching these flocks gather, but starling numbers have declined by 80% in England since the 1980s alone. It’s thought the loss of suitable foraging areas that provide the invertebrates the starlings eat during breeding – particularly earthworms and leatherjackets – and fewer nesting sites are the likeliest causes. Changes to agricultural practices, including pesticide use, the drainage of pastures and conversion of grassland to arable crops may all be factors. Watching the waves of starlings – named after the star-like speckles on their dark feathers – I wonder if they’ll become rare one day.
I feel the first touches of rain on my face, and walk back along the river. A large fish jumps out of the darkening water to snatch a fly.I feel the first touches of rain on my face, and walk back along the river. A large fish jumps out of the darkening water to snatch a fly.
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