Blackpool, Lancashire. UK Weather. 31st January 2018. Glorious sunset over the North Pier as Starlings gather at Blackpool as dusk approaches. Tens of thousands of these migratory birds congregate on the foreshore before flying to their roosts in the relative shelter of the pier structure. High winds at the coast forces the birds to take some rest on the beach before flying to their roost. A very unusual phenomenon, rarely seen and unique to this coast. Credit: MediaWorldImages/AlamyLiveNews.
Early evening, just before dusk, is the best time to see them across the UK as they perform their aerial dance and choose their communal night-time shelter. They roost in places that are sheltered from harsh weather and predators. They tend to roost in woodlands, but reedbeds, cliffs, buildings and industrial structures are also used. During the day, however, they form daytime roosts at exposed places such as treetops, where the birds have good all-round visibility. Autumn roosts usually begin to form in November, though this varies from site to site and some can begin as early as September. More and more birds will flock together as the weeks go on, and the number of starlings in a roost can swell to around 100,000 in some places. The huge gatherings are at their largest in winter, as they are boosted by thousands of migrant birds visiting from Europe for Britain's milder Atlantic climate. Why do they do it? Starlings join forces for many reasons. Grouping together offers safety in numbers – predators such as peregrine falcons find it hard to target one bird amidst a hypnotising flock of thousands.
Size: 3600px × 2400px
Location: Blackpool, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © MediaWorldImages / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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