Starlings

Every year, at about this time, there is a starling murmuration that uses the sky above the village as a stage for their signature flight, prior to dropping into the woods just behind the old mine settling tanks to roost. Watching it is breathtaking, with the swirls of movement creating huge amoeba-like constructs in the sky. It starts at about 16.00 with some barely noticable groups of birds sweeping the fields. In a few minutes they join together in a larger gathering. From then on other similar sized flocks arrive coming from all directions and the display flock gets bigger and bigger.

Now they are into the swing of things and put on their incredible dance. At 16.25 one section climbs a bit higher and forms into a curving spiral of synchronised wings.For a couple of seconds it hangs motionless and then drops, quite suddenly and deliberately, into the trees. The flock becomes a collection of individuals, each one chattering and jostling and finding a perch for itself. Another section follows, then another. Every available branch must be jam-packed with bodies, breathing out warmth and companionship as mist seeps up from ground 
and night falls.