Table of Contents 1. 2. The reason why Starling murmurations take place3. Why Starlings roost together in huge numbers during the winter4. Our recommendations on where best to see Starling murmurations5. The best months and time of day to view Starling murmurations6. Unfortunately, a display isn’t guaranteed!

At Vine House Farm we have a particular love of Starlings, with some of the conservation work we carry out on the farm being aimed at reversing the sharp decline in their breeding numbers since the 1980s (around 50%). But during the winter months the UK sees a very large increase in Starling numbers, with birds in their millions arriving from northern mainland Europe to join our resident population – and it’s this combination which creates the huge flocks that then perform murmurations at dusk.

The reason why Starling murmurations take place

It’s fair to say that these mumurations are one of the greatest natural spectacles that any of us can witness in the winter months here in the UK, with sometimes tens-of-thousands of Starlings twisting and turning in apparent unison just before they settle to roost for the night. The reason for the Starlings’ spectacular behaviour is essentially because it offers relative safety from predator species like Peregrine falcon and Sparrowhawk, which would both find it hard to single out a single bird in the unified swirling mass. So if the Starlings just came in to roost randomly as individuals or in small groups, immediately a raptor is going to find it far easier to pick one off.

Why Starlings roost together in huge numbers during the winter

Starlings are anyway a very gregarious species during the day, but also roost together in very significant numbers each night during the cold winter months. This behaviour provides them relative warmth, with it being likely that thousands of Starlings packed close together will raise the immediate air temperature by a few degrees. The location of the roost such as a reed bed or large architectural structure like a seaside pier, will also provide a degree of protection from mammal predators.

Our recommendations on where best to see Starling murmurations

But it’s what happens just before Starlings settle for the night which is so amazing, and if you’ve never witnessed a murmuration, then we would very much urge you to do so. The spectacle takes place at many locations across the UK, but often on a relatively small and less impressive scale. So to see a Starling murmuration at its biggest and best, these are our main recommendations for location.

England
Shapwick Heath, Somerset
Brighton Pier, Sussex
Leighton Moss, Lancashire (RSPB reserve)
Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire (RSPB reserve) 
Minsmere, Suffolk (RSPB reserve)
Blockholes, near Preston, Lancashire (Lancashire Wildlife Trust nature reserve)
Blackpool North Pier

Wales
Aberystwyth Royal Pier, Ceredigion

Scotland
Gretna Green, Dumfries & Galloway (the actual roost site varies but is usually just east of the M6 services)
RSPB Mersehead, Solway coast, Dumfries and Galloway

Northern Ireland
Albert Bridge, River Lagan, Belfast

 

The best months and time of day to view Starling murmurations

The peak months are December and January, as by this time the flocks will have reached maximum numbers as more Starlings arrive from mainland Europe – especially if the winter there is exceptionally cold. For the time of day, the murmuration will usually start as the light fades and dusk sets in, with the Starlings finally settling in their roost just before it gets dark. So be sure to arrive at one of the murmuration sites in good time to watch the amazing spectacle.

Unfortunately, a display isn’t guaranteed!

Just a final word of caution if you’re intending to make a long journey to watch a Starling murmuration: the birds don’t always perform each night! Sometimes the Starlings will arrive back at the roost site in smaller groups and just quickly settle, with the reasons for this not fully understood – though it seems very likely that weather conditions are a factor. So our suggestion would be to aim for a relatively cold, calm and still day, and avoid days which are milder, wet, windy and with low cloud cover.