Strength in numbers

Starlings are superb. Really underrated birds, assumed to be common as muck, bold as brass urban dwellers lumped in with pigeons and sparrows. Indeed they are bold, and fortunate we are for that, for we get to see their dazzling concoction of cream-yellow spots on purple-green-black gloss and bright eyes belying brains beyond the assumption of the average dropper of crumbs from picnic tables in parks.

Now's the time when they form big tribal groups, multiple families hanging out, feeding, stocking up for the onset of autumn. The adults chortle, chatter, gossip. The youngsters find their way in the world under the watchful eye of mum, dad, uncle Bob... Only the strongest will survive, but they're pretty good at that, are starlings.