25/10/2020 - Starling Murmurations

I started noticing this impressive phenomenon when I moved to Aberystwyth for Uni. I never really thought anything of it, other than that it was quite impressive, until I saw it occurring down by the pier.

The murmurations by the pier were incredible, forming all sorts of mesmerising patterns and shapes in the sky. The birds would eventually all fly under and land on the underside of the pier, like they were putting on a show for the hoards of people filming from the seafront.

As it turns out, this is a daily occurrence at dusk during the autumn and winter, as the birds fly under the pier to roost for the night. During the day I understand that they are out looking for food and come back to the safety of the pier during the night. During the summer, I understand that they live in Scandinavia and Central Europe, only coming to the ever-mild Aberystwyth when the ground freezes in the winter in their normal food-searching spots.

For more information:

https://www.aberystwythguide.org.uk/aberystwyth_starlings.shtml