This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8d464407p2o
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Falcon filmed hunting during starling murmuration in Chester | Falcon filmed hunting during starling murmuration in Chester |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Bird of prey filmed hunting starlings during a "breathtaking" murmuration display. | |
| "Breathtaking" footage of what was believed to be a peregrine falcon attempting to hunt during a murmuration of thousands of starlings has been captured on video. | |
| One of the wildlife experts who filmed the phenomenon said it was even more spectacular as it was above a "built up urban area" in Upton, Cheshire, close to Chester Zoo. | One of the wildlife experts who filmed the phenomenon said it was even more spectacular as it was above a "built up urban area" in Upton, Cheshire, close to Chester Zoo. |
| Alex Cunningham, who is schools engagement officer at the zoo, went with his colleague Mayukh Chatterjee in the hope of seeing the display after hearing about it. | Alex Cunningham, who is schools engagement officer at the zoo, went with his colleague Mayukh Chatterjee in the hope of seeing the display after hearing about it. |
| He said it was "incredible" to watch it with residents on an "everyday street". "The cherry on the cake was the sky. It was a stunning canvas of pink and blue illuminating the spectacular." | He said it was "incredible" to watch it with residents on an "everyday street". "The cherry on the cake was the sky. It was a stunning canvas of pink and blue illuminating the spectacular." |
| Ruby Merriman said the murmuration was successful as the bird of prey was not seen to get any of the starlings | |
| Sarah Vickers who lives on Caughall Road said she has lived in Upton almost all of her life and does not recall ever seeing a murmuration so close. | Sarah Vickers who lives on Caughall Road said she has lived in Upton almost all of her life and does not recall ever seeing a murmuration so close. |
| The 59-year-old said she was thrilled to see the display from her doorstep last week. | The 59-year-old said she was thrilled to see the display from her doorstep last week. |
| "I never expected to see that here," she said, adding "so near surburbia". | "I never expected to see that here," she said, adding "so near surburbia". |
| "I was so pleased. It is amazing how the birds don't collide." | "I was so pleased. It is amazing how the birds don't collide." |
| Mr Cunningham said: "You really are seeing one of nature's amazing spectacles right in front of your eyes." | Mr Cunningham said: "You really are seeing one of nature's amazing spectacles right in front of your eyes." |
| He said he is thrilled he can show the footage to the students he works with to "demonstrate that amazing wildlife can be found right on your doorstep". | He said he is thrilled he can show the footage to the students he works with to "demonstrate that amazing wildlife can be found right on your doorstep". |
| "It's very accessible - and we captured it on a mobile phone," he said. | "It's very accessible - and we captured it on a mobile phone," he said. |
| The only downside for residents, though, he said was many of their vehicles were covered in bird "poo". | The only downside for residents, though, he said was many of their vehicles were covered in bird "poo". |
| Ruby Merriman, who is estate biodiversity manager at Chester Zoo, said the starlings will likely have been feeding on its habitats such as reed beds, wetlands and woodlands. | Ruby Merriman, who is estate biodiversity manager at Chester Zoo, said the starlings will likely have been feeding on its habitats such as reed beds, wetlands and woodlands. |
| "The murmuration was so close to our estate, closer than ever and hopefully with our big plans to improve our habitats even more I am hoping they will be over the zoo in the future," she said. | "The murmuration was so close to our estate, closer than ever and hopefully with our big plans to improve our habitats even more I am hoping they will be over the zoo in the future," she said. |
| Chester Zoo said it has "big plans" to improve its habitats and hope that in future the starling murmuration will be over the estate | Chester Zoo said it has "big plans" to improve its habitats and hope that in future the starling murmuration will be over the estate |
| The 33-year-old said: "It is one of the wonders of the natural world. | The 33-year-old said: "It is one of the wonders of the natural world. |
| "It is one of the best spectacles we can see in the UK. Their agility and ability to avoid predators is breathtaking." | "It is one of the best spectacles we can see in the UK. Their agility and ability to avoid predators is breathtaking." |
| She said the dominate theory behind murmurations is for the birds to avoid predators as they come to roost with "safety in numbers" by joining up in tight knit groups. | She said the dominate theory behind murmurations is for the birds to avoid predators as they come to roost with "safety in numbers" by joining up in tight knit groups. |
| Ms Merriman said the video appeared to show the starlings had been successful as the peregrine falcon was not seen to get any of the birds. | |
| Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. | Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. |