i know this one!

[annie]

a starling.......yes?

[Black Pearl]

Yep.

[Phil]

:thumbup:

[JohnP]

They are much less common these days.

Conservation Status: RED because of recent breeding population decline. Previous Assessments: 1996-2001 AMBER 2002-2011 RED.

[Phil]

They are much less common these days.

As I'm typing this I'm looking at my bird table that currently has 23 Starlings squabbling over a few bread crumbs :)

[JohnP]

As I'm typing this I'm looking at my bird table that currently has 23 Starlings squabbling over a few bread crumbs

I can't even remember the last time I saw one and I spend time walking and bird watching quite often.

[Phil]

In our house they're known as the gangsters of the bird world, no sooner is the bird table replenished than it disappears as the Starlings go to work.

[JohnP]

In our house they're known as the gangsters of the bird world, no sooner is the bird table replenished than it disappears as the Starlings go to work.

Over the country as a whole the decline is huge, lots used to come to Britain for the winter and even those have been slowly diappearing too.

[Phil]

Over the country as a whole the decline is huge

I know that's true John just around here you wouldn't believe it :)

[JohnP]

I know that's true John just around here you wouldn't believe it

Many years ago I can remember seeing flocks of thousands flying similar to shoals of fish on their way to roost on winter evenings.

[Heather]

weve got hundreds of them here

nice picture Annie great feather detail

[NannyFerret]

We didn't see any for a couple of years, but we seemed to have a few more last year and a good few to start this year off.They have such beautiful colours in the sunlight.

I'm not sure if it's my imagination, but they seem a bit smaller than they used to be many years ago.