This is definitely the time of year for starlings. They are massing in large flocks and filling the air with their incessant chatter. These ones are on their favoured tree at the rear of our garden.
We still have some butterflies around, to go with the recent dragonfly sighting. There were a pair of red admirals in the garden, but only one settled. It looks a bit worn, but that's not really a surprise this late in the season. I've seen worse!
Later in the day I headed out to the Downs. It was quiet, and apart from a few more flocks of starlings the only other bird I photographed was a meadow pipit. At least I think that's what it is. I'm no expert at identifying the smaller brown birds so I could be wrong. 
This next shot is of one of the hazards on the local golf course, taken just as the sun was dropping low in the sky.
The other hazard (from a photographer's perspective) are the golfers, but they were on the back 9 and a safe distance away.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D EF and 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
derWandersmann
21 Nov 2011Wow! The spiky -bush hazard!
The golfers are great! Silhouette was the perfect treatment, whether you were forced into it or not.
Starlings are interesting birds, and that iridescence is fabulous, but they are rather bullies.
RobinL
21 Nov 2011Words, they are gathering around here to! We have a huge tree across from us and they love to roost there just before nightfall! A murmeration of Starlings!
cakkleberrylane
21 Nov 2011I love the beautiful colours on the starlings. We had a lot of them in Ontario. Some actually nested very close to our second floor bedroom window where a litter of kittens were being raised. Later in the year the starlings would sit on the telephone wire and meow.
Beautiful shots of the golf course and golfers too!
gdare
21 Nov 2011Golf terrain… I wonder where are foxes, waiting for balls to catch? :ninja:
mrmagoo06s
22 Nov 2011Starlings are great species because of their capability to hunt or what so ever. I do not have a special capability of recognition so that I do not assimilate these birds.
Words
22 Nov 2011Darko, there are foxes in the area (of course), but I'm yet to see one actually on the golf course.
Words
22 Nov 2011Miguel, they are wonderful to watch in flight. They move like a swarm, thousands twisting and turning as though they were one creature. It can be a stunning sight.
Words
22 Nov 2011dW, there was indeed no choice about the silhouette, but that's why I took the shot. 😉
Words
22 Nov 2011Robin, 'murmuration' is such a good word. I really should find one of our local sites where they gather in their thousands, and take some late afternoon/dusk shots.
Words
22 Nov 2011Lois, starlings are great mimics so I'm not surprised they meowing like cats. I do wonder what the local felines might make of that though :confused:
SittingFox
27 Nov 2011Great shots. Golf courses are such strange places. Very artifical, but definitely pretty at times.
Words
27 Nov 2011Adele, thanks! I'm trying to make the best of the little sunshine we're getting at the moment.