Murmuration

An excursion around RSPB Leighton Moss this afternoon on a grey, cold day.

At this time of the year people come to see the starlings murmurating as they go to roost in the reedbeds. However today all the various flocks coming from very different directions were heading to an area beyond the main reserve, over towards the salt marshes. So to see anything you had to be on top of the sky hide (which I was) looking towards the bay through binoculars ( which I was). Poor light for photography, it’s more a record of the event.

The question for me though is …… how do all the birds know where to head each night ? There was no hesitation from any of the groups.