We went to see where our local starlings go to roost this evening, near Mydroilyn. The birds gathered in the trees all around the area at first, and when they went to roost they rushed in and dived straight in to the trees. None of the wheeling around I have seen at other sites.
Perhaps it's the predator risk, or weather! There were certainly a couple of buzzards, a sparrowhawk and a superb goshawk there, plus others I expect. Difficult site to get near!
As to a count........many! To be honest an accurate count would be difficult going by how fast and low they came in, many thousand any way.