Starling Murmurations.

If you have never seen a Starling Murmurations, then PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE......if you don't do anything else in your life.....go and see a Starling Murmuration!  They are incredible!

Leighton Moss is THE place in the North-West to see a Starling Murmuration, although smaller ones can be seen at a few other places around Lancashire.

The only problem you have at Leighton Moss, is in locating the exact site at which the Starlings are going to "perform" today! There could be one of several places to choose from. Problem being that they could be anything from a couple of minutes drive, to a good five or ten minute drive away from each other, so if you are in the wrong place, the murmuration could be over by the time you get to the place where they are performing. On the other hand they could be up in the air and performing for 30 minutes!

Check out the Leighton Moss facebook page or Twitter account to establish where they have been recently, although that is not infallible!

To be on the safe side, get there about an hour before sunset. You could be waiting for half an hour for something to happen....or you could be late for the show!  The Starlings start drifting in in small numbers as they start to rally. 

As they gather before sunset, you can see the sky start to change colour as the numbers increase.....

Numbers can reach in excess of 150,000 as they did this year. But even 50,000 is something to behold!

It really is potluck as to what will happen, and where it will happen.....but with 100,000+ birds, you can usually get a decent view of the show from anywhere!

We have tried to fathom whether they like god weather, of days with no wind, or cloudy days, or rainy days.....but there does not seem to be any pattern to it.

Sometimes they fly in and go straight to roost in the reeds.....and sometimes they give the most exquisite displays imaginable! Just make sure you get yourself in place as much as possible!

As the light fades, you can experiment with slow speeds and high ISO's to get some abstract images....they may turn out well, or they may not!

Personally, I love my after hours show! - I think the abstracts look great!...... They look like watercolours :)))

Make a bee-line for Leighton Moss next year....put it in your diary NOW!..... you won't be disappointed!!!

Take Care......