Starling stuff over Newbury

Thousands of birds make a murmuration

STARLINGS have been causing spectacular sights in the skies over Newbury.

The murmurations of starlings have been sighted over Speen in recent weeks. These amazing pictures were taken by Newbury resident Christopher Culley last Tuesday.

Mr Culley photographed the birds after he and his wife spotted the swirling mass from their kitchen window and decided to investigate.

Setting off to snap the birds, they headed for the bridge over the Kennet and Avon Canal before a passer-by told them they would best head to Speen to spot them.

Mr Culley said he had never seen such a large flock of the birds during his 59 years in Newbury and that people had turned out to watch the aerial display. A keen photographer, Mr Culley said he had travelled to Somerset to try and snap the mass of birds that murmurate over the levels, but he’d had more luck in his home town.

“It’s very, very spectacular seeing the shapes they make,” he said. “It’s only when the birds turn that you get the darker colours.”

A murmuration of starlings occurs over a roosting site before the birds settle for the night.

The RSPB believes that murmurations happen for various reasons, such as to ward off predators, keep warm at night and communicate good feeding areas.

The society said that the UK’s starling population has fallen by more than 80 per cent, placing them on the critical list of UK bird most at risk.