Starlings

With regard to Ian's sightings of vast numbers of Starlings I reckon they are from the Aberystwyth Pier roost. I have travelled up from the Ceredigion/Pembrokeshire border in past winters and on the road from Llanrhystud to Talsarn and have seen large numbers heading N or NNW. I reckon the Aber pier birds travel perhaps anything up to 80 - 100 miles on their daily feeding forays. On rare occasions during the late afternoons I have even had several flocks of them passing over my home in a valley near Machynlleth heading in a westerly direction again I think to the Pier roost. I believe these birds feed on the Dylife/Plynlimon upland areas. I would be interested to know if others have any theories on this. I hope many of you have been watching the BBC TV programme on 'Swarms'. The footage of the enormous numbers of Starlings roosting in Rome is incredulous. It would be worth a winter break in Rome just to witness the spectacle!