Subject: [Tweeters] Starling murmuration
Date: Dec 27 16:51:25 2017
From: Stephen - schasecredo at gmail.com


Connie,
The largest Starling flock I know of is in Whatcom County, usually on the corner of Abbot Road and Theil Road in the Hannegan Flats south of Lynden. The flock is at least 1500 strong, perhaps twice that, and yes, they murmurate. A while back I saw the flock, in murmuration, chasing a Sharp-shinned Hawk. They're visible from quite some distance when they're in formation.

Good location also for eagles, harriers, trumpeters, geese, blackbirds, snipe, and dabbling ducks.

As a bonus, the farmer on that particular corner likes to raise unique cattle breeds, some with impressive horns. My kids like me to drive by so they can see the cows while I watch the birds. When the weather is warm enough, he often has the cows in his front pasture.

Enjoy,
Stephen in Everson


> On Dec 27, 2017, at 11:28 AM, Constance Sidles <constancesidles at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hey tweets, a photographer friend of mine is looking to photograph a murmuration of European Starlings and asked me if I knew anywhere in the state where they do this.
>
> Starlings used to be in good numbers at Montlake Fill, enough to occasionally produce such a phenom, at least in a small way. But for whatever reason, starlings have now declined to the point where some days, I don't see a single one.
>
> I was thinking the Samish Flats might be a good location. I believe there are large numbers of starlings there, along with flocks of blackbirds, but do they murmurate? That's what I don't know.
>
> Any suggestions? - Connie, Seattle
>
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