Some stunning images have appeared in the news this week of one of the country’s most spectacular wildlife events.
Starling murmerations occur when young birds gather together in their hundreds and thousands in large flocks and at dusk they begin flying in swirling cloud like formations.
The RSPB have been on hand to help people get the best view and answer their questions about this amazing spectacle – and some sharp eyed photographers have managed to snap the flocks in some interesting shapes, from animals to something a little less fluffy and heartwarming.
The large flocks occur because starlings find safety in numbers but there is also evidence that they use the social gathering to exchange information about feeding areas.