Starling - downwind approach
Bit trivial I guess but seeking some input (Please keep in mind I'm a 65 hour PPL(H).
Sat in the garden today and observed a Starling do a downwind approach to neighbour's roof top TV ariel. W/V was 090 degrees and maybe 3 - 4 knots.
Yes, I have previously observed birds doing downwind approaches which always seem to result in an elegent curve into wind and then a land on, but this chap did a direct downwind approach.
His/her wings were going like rotors prior to touchdown( over a distance of about six feet) but it seemed to have maybe one knot of positive airspeed.
Immediately over the TV ariel the starling 'dropped a wing' and within the bird's own axis executed a 180 and plonked down on the ariel.
I've never seen such a 'risky' approach executed by a bird before (I spend a lot of time looking at birds - I also fly Hangliders).
Has anybody else seen this behaviour from Starlings - is this something they specialise in?
Regards
Cron