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Falcon filmed hunting during starling murmuration in Chester Falcon attack on starling mumuration in Chester 'incredible'
(about 4 hours later)
Bird of prey filmed hunting starlings during a "breathtaking" murmuration display. 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. A "breathtaking" attack by what was believed to be a peregrine falcon on 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. Alex Cunningham managed to film the "incredible" spectacle above a "built up urban area" in Upton, Cheshire, close to Chester Zoo in February.
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. The wildlife expert, who is the zoo's schools engagement officer, went with 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 a stunning sight on an "everyday street", adding: "The cherry on the cake was the sky [as] 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 starlingsRuby 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 on 22 February.
"I never expected to see that here," she said, adding "so near surburbia". "I never expected to see that here, so near surburbia," she added.
"I was so pleased. It is amazing how the birds don't collide." "I was so pleased.
Mr Cunningham said: "You really are seeing one of nature's amazing spectacles right in front of your eyes." "It is amazing how the birds don't collide."
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". Mr Cunningham said it was fantastic to see "one of nature's amazing spectacles right in front of your eyes".
He said he was thrilled to capture the footage and intended to show it 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". He added that the only downside was that many locals had their vehicles 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. Starlings are thought to use murmurations to avoid predators as they come to roost
"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. Ruby Merriman, the zoo's estate biodiversity manager, said the starlings would have probably been feeding on its habitats, such as reed beds, wetlands and woodlands, before the spectacle took place.
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 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 33-year-old said: "It is one of the wonders of the natural world. The 33-year-old said it was "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.
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. "Their agility and ability to avoid predators is breathtaking."
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. She said the dominate theory behind murmurations was that the formations allowed the birds to avoid predators as they come to roost, using "safety in numbers" by joining up in tight-knit groups.
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. She added that the video appeared to show the starlings had been successful as the peregrine falcon was not seen to get any of the birds.
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