The bush telegraph was busy. It’s that time of year, and starlings are murmurating. Spotted south of Ripon, they’d also been seen at Nosterfield, only a couple of miles from us.
Down at the nature reserve, just at sunset, cars gathered. Their occupants waited, enjoying the spectacle of the nightly sunset. Then most of the cars just – went. What did they know that we didn’t? Then Malcolm spotted what we’d come to see, over there in the north.
Thousands upon thousands of starlings in a dense cloud that spread, re-gathered, swooped, dived and soared like one of those unending computer-graphic screen savers that used to be all the rage.
We left too, We needed to be nearer. And sure enough, there in a lay-by near Nosterfield village we re-grouped, our binoculars to the ready. The starlings formed an immense cloud, sometimes dispersing to blend in with the grey cloud behind, sometimes wheeling together in sinuous black streaks of snake-like movement. For half an hour we watched.
Then this impressive partnership of birds pulsed lower, then lower, then dropped out of sight. They’d finished their performance for the night.
From Pyrenees to Pennines 
I would LOVE to see this in person! I’ve seen videos, of course, and read about how it works–how they manage to not crash into each other, etc.–but being there for the event must be spectacular!
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It was a really special event.
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It’s a wonderful sight isn’t it? We were lucky enough to have this happen right over our house a couple of years ago. It was fascinating. I was mesmerised at how so many could fly so close together and swoop and turn so easily without crashing! It went on for a very long time.
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And it must be so expensive in calories too. How much food do they have to find to do this extraordinary thing?
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To see a large murmuration is on my bucket list. Love how you’ve captured it in words and pictures. Stunning sight 🙂
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I’d love my pictures to have been better. Pesky things wouldn’t come nearer….
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I very much enjoyed your pictures thank you.
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Thanks. If only I could have got just a little nearer…..
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I have seen them would you believe in Swindon. Really something else!
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I think they’re not choosy, these starlings. I used to see them roosting in Leeds city centre.
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It’s a fantastic sight and one seen more rarely these days, I believe. Lucky you!
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It was a mesmerising experience.
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Wonderful! I’d so love to see this phenomenon in person.
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Oh, I do hope you’ll get the chance. Mesmerising.
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I love watching murmurations though I haven’t seen such a large group as your one for years! Excellent description of the event and great photos too. A very difficult subject to photograph.
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It is. And anyway, I was too busy enjoying it really to worry about photos.
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Amazing sight!
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We thought so. We’re off again this evening.
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wow, looks amazing… beautiful captures…
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So hard to photograph. The reality is so much more dramatic.
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Lucky you , I’d love to see this 🙂
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It’s too late now, this year, but round about March next year, keep your ears open for sightings.
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