Waiting for the murmuration

A colleague at work had told me that there had been murmurations in the village where I live but I hadn't been over to Dovecote Lake to see it. However, I did see the starlings on the left sitting in the sunshine in a tree showing off their glossy winter plumage. Then a few twitchers turned up and I chatted to various people but decided to wander off home as I wanted to upload my pics and watch Flog It and Pointless while I did it before getting the dinner! The pic on the left was of the first 4 twitchers and I just liked the pop of red and blue. However, the chap on the left had a better idea really as strong colours make it obvious that you are about when bird watching. I have a green parka which blends in with the surroundings.

A murmuration is when starlings flock together and it is reported that there are about 10,000 of them that return to the lake to roost in the nearby trees. It is a fantastic sight to see as they swoop around together and turn the sky black! I don't think my bridge camera would have got any decent pics anyway.

I have been to another coffee morning this morning in one of my other villages where I work and I've managed to get 3 new clients, one of which had her 90th birthday on New Year's Eve! I am going to get a CareLink alarm sorted out for her as she has been unwell and lives alone and has no way of contacting anyone for help should she need it. I think I shall probably be able to help her with lots of other things while I'm there as she may need an OT referral for some aids in the house and I bet she is not claiming all the benefits she's entitled to either! I like to ensure that these elderly people get all the help they can as they often live in drafty houses and find it difficult to heat them especially because they worry about paying their energy bills!

[Judith Johnson]

You are so kind and caring with your patients/customers/clients? We had some starlings in the garden on Christmas day but nothing since. Never heard of a murmuration before.

[Kim Crisp]

The starlings look like they are enjoying the lovely sunshine. I was lucky enough to see beautiful mumurations last winter at Fen Drayton lakes; it was like watching natures fireworks, especially as everyone was 'oohing' and 'aahing' :-)