Dusk mumurmation at Blackpool, Lancashire. UK Weather. 26th January 2018. The skies darken over part of Blackpool as starlings gather on the North Pier at Blackpool as a evening approaches. Tens of thousands of these mixed flocks of migratory birds congregate to swirl, swoop, swarm and appear to dance in the sky, before flying to their roosts in the relative shelter of the Blackpool's North Pier structure. Predators such as peregrine falcons find it hard to target one bird in the middle of a hypnotising flock of thousands. Credit: MediaWorldImages/AlamyLiveNews.
The onset of winter triggers these mumurations as huge flocks of gregarious birds congregate to find communal roosts. The murmur or chatter, the interaction and communication between birds as they fly, is quite intense. These displays are the largest seen in the last for 12 years and are attracting large numbers of birdwatchers to the area. Grouping together offers safety in numbers – predators such as peregrine falcons find it hard to target one bird in the middle of a hypnotising flock of thousands.
Size: 3401px × 2267px
Location: Blackpool, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © MediaWorldImages / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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