I saw this in Cornwall last year. I was looking for the Juv Rose-coloured Starling that was frequenting Morrisons car park in Eastern Green near Penzance. Unfortunately I dipped on that but there were lots of Starlings some of which were near the entrance and exit doors and pretty up close to people and shopping trolleys. They've obviously learnt there are pickings to be had around those big 2-legged animals pushing those shiny silver things!
The market place in and shopping precinct in Ashton-u-Lyne and Crown Point shopping centre in Denton are two other places where you can see loads of Starlings up close like this.
There used to be big flocks in central Manchester, Piccadilly in particular, but high-pitched scaring devices seemed to work and got rid of them - or maybe the Starlings are following the trend of "out of town" shopping?
Hi Fred, I've seen them there too and fantastic they are. I've wondered how long they've been doing that as I can't remember that happening years ago. It's one of those behaviours that seems to have developed and had gone under the radar a bit, wish I'd made more of a note with hindsight. Personally I haven't seen it at other locations round here, but did see it at motorway services on M1 and M40 last year. It's interesting how they often seem to head for newly arrived cars, presumably to search for insects splattered on front bumpers? At Asda in Wigan I once saw a speaker lowered out of an upstairs office window with a bird scaring distress call played. Needless to say it had no effect whatsoever.
Asda superstore in wigan has lots of starlings on the car park.they run under parked cars and supermarket trolleys.they rarely fly and you can get within a few feet of them.they must be doing well because they are in pristine condition.beautifully marked and their multicoloured plumage shining brightly.
