This winter we have been privileged to watch a spectacular display of starlings over the town of Castle Douglas in south west Scotland every evening. Thousands of birds mass in the sky to perform the most breath-taking aerial ballet.

The starlings start to gather

No sky, just starlings
It seems starlings do this for several reasons. Grouping together offers safety in numbers as predators such as peregrine falcons are less able to target one bird to grab for dinner in the middle of thousands swooping and swerving. They gather to keep warm at night and they exchange information about good feeding sites.
At some point the decision is made and communicated to the entire murmuration and they swoop down to their chosen roost. It’s like a black waterfall pouring out of the darkening sky. Once settled the racket they make as they chitter chatter amongst themselves is astonishing.

Coming in to roost
What makes them choose a particular place, though, remains a mystery. For years we’ve had a small group which roosts in the monkey puzzle tree in the grounds of the library but we’ve never had such numbers before. For some years, Gretna boasted a large murmuration and last year they were at Kirkcudbright. This year, I’m so delighted it’s our turn – even if my poor car is under their flight path. And, if it’s true a bird pooping on you means good luck then I must be going to be incredibly lucky this year!
All over the town photographers are wandering about, eyes glued on the swirling mass above. They’ve led us a merry dance, too, changing their roost location several times over the last few weeks – still always within walking distance. Wherever they choose to roost, I’m lucky they gather right outside my study window before they fly homewards for the night.
My friend and collaborator on local history books, wildlife expert and photographer Keith Kirk has taken some stunning photos and videos. This link takes you to his Facebook video page and from there you can find the link to his photos. He’s a MUCH better photographer than I am!
That’s fabulous Mary. I love watching them like this 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s been fantastic, Sue. I’m worried now the weather is becoming colder they may head off for somewhere milder but for weeks it has been wonderful. Truly mesmerising.
LikeLike
Let’s hope the weather doesn’t get too cold for them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe Sally will get them Ireland!
LikeLike
They could wander south if they like 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’d love them. You’d be squeaking!
LikeLike
I know 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Mary this is an incredible sight and no wonder everyone has their eyes peeled to the sky in wonder! I always imagine they are flying in a pattern to give us a message! With a smile, I’m wondering where you start with counting these for the national bird census this coming weekend! 😀 Enjoy your noisy visitors whilst they stay.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is a truly amazing sight, Annika. As soon as I see the first small groups head past my window I usually go out to watch them. They fly in from all directions to join in the dance. I don’t know how they know where to meet – they must have an incredible communicaton system. As for counting them, I wouldn’t know where to begin. Keith reckons we have about 100,000!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blimey!!!😀 That is a lot of birds!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’ve been roosting in a friend’s trees and she says some of the branches have broken with the weight of them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A fabulous display! Your pictures are great.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Darlene. They provide me with my evening entertainment. It doesn’t matter how often I watch them I’m completely mesmerised each time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lucky you. Never seen a proper one yet, just a few hundred at best… one day.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have no idea how they choose their location. Maybe your few hundred are s couting out food supplies for future reference!
LikeLike
It’s a fantastic sight, Mary. No matter how many times I see it I’m always fascinated.
LikeLiked by 2 people
They’ve been since before Christmas and I never tire of watching them.Usually, I’m too lost in wonder to even think of taking photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you took some this time 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You capture that so well, Mary. I remember sitting in a hotel room in Brighton, and watching something similar as Starlings flew around over the old ruined pier. I couldn’t take my eyes off the sight.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It really is an incredible sight, Pete. I hope they come back next year but who knows?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lucky you, Mary, to have such a sight right above your head. Enjoy!
LikeLiked by 2 people
They’ve made winter a bit more bearable, Lynn. Just hope this cold snap doesn’t make them move to a milder climate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
An amazing sight Mary.. our starlings are fabulous entertainment.. we have a gathering of crows in their thousands each night and they line the electric and telephone wires for about 20 minutes before sunset.. all facing the west and they they fly off to our woods to roost for the night..Thanks for sharing… lovely post. xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s wonderful, isn’t it, Sally. If this cold spell lasts our starlings might head your way as it’s (supposedly) milder. I hope they stay. There is a rookery in the trees where they roost and the rooks disappear while the aerobatics are going on and come back later after the starlings have settled. It must be disconcerting to be sitting on your nest and seeing thousands of starlings waterfall out of the sky towards you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will keep an eye open..will be putting out extra seed tomorrow as they won’t be going far in the wind and wet… my babies… xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: MarySmith’sPlace – #Murmuration | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine
Thank you.
LikeLike
These photos are astounding, Mary. And what a lucky one you are, bird poop and all. I would certainly get no work done all day, just staring up at the sky waiting for the murmuration. Thanks for sharing this with us. It makes sense that ‘safety in numbers’ works for the birds, plus the companionship.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I know they won’t appear before the evening, Pam. Before Christmas it was all over by 4pm but now it’s after five before they roost – so the days are getting longer though we’re in the depths of winter! Once I notice the first few groups I know the show is about to start and there’s no point in trying to do anything else until it’s over.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A special evening meditative time with the whoosh and the group bird hug. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’re amazing. I’ve been about 3 weeks trying to put together a blog post about the starling murmurations, constantly trying to get a decent photo that sums up the mood and feel, but I’m pretty much at the point of admitting defeat. I’m just not a wildlife photographer.
Now, if I could just get a few of them to chat to, and let me set up my studio lights…
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve seen some of your pics on Facebook and the gif you made and they are better than mine. I’m no photographer and I didn’t even try for ages. Then I though I might as well have a go as I could delete them if they were rubbish – which most of them were! It’s been incredible to watch them night after night. I feel our wee town has been really privileged this year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Inspired by your blog post, I’ve finally pulled together the one I’ve spent weeks trying to create. Do pop over and take a look if you have a moment 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will do. I’m really chuffed a friend has been inspired by mine to call the next tune she composes Murmuration.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How wonderful! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know birds gathered like this, Mary. How amazing. I love your photographs.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is an amazing sight, Robbie, and we’re so lucky they chose our town for this year’s murmuration. Some of the starlings may have come from as far as Russia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for sharing this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When we lived in Brighton, we were so lucky to see these flocks of starlings putting on a spectacular show for us along the coastline, Mary. I always wondered if the lead bird was always the same, or if they took it in turns to choose their next flight path?
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re the second blogger to mention seeing them at Brighton, Hugh. Beetley Pete also remembers seeing them there. I can’t answer your question about the lead bird and I also don’t know why or how they decided to change their roost from near the loch at one end of the town to a small woodland at the other but for either place they dance outside my house en route.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, I thought all the birds in the world were here in Mexico LOL 🙂 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, we have a few here, too, Debby!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol I know Mary. But omg, I’ve never seen so many birds in one place 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Smorgasbord Music Column – Romantic Ballads Part Two – Brigid P. Gallagher, Mary Smith, Jennie Fitzkee, Darlene Foster and William Price King. | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine