Fantastic Starling Murmurtions at The Palace Pier, Brighton Sussex. Nature is Awesome!
Noone is entirely sure why they do this but it's a fantastic show that is at its peak around about now (middle of January).
As the sun starts to set, Starlings from all over Brighton congregate, typically between the two piers and dazzle all who care to watch with spectacular displays.
In January you can watch them start to form from around 3.25pm. Wrap up warm and be amazed as more and more groupd swoop in to join the ever increasing flock.
The whole display lasts about 45 minutes building to an amazing crescendo as the numbers peak. Sometimes the entire flock will split in to two or more groups, dancing over the wreck of the old West Pier, in the other direction towards the Marina, and over the main Pier itself, which is arguably the best viewing platform.
You can also stand on the two stone breakwaters nearest the Palace Pier or just view from the beach. Standing on the Pier, with a bit of luck, you can watch as thousands of them swoop at high speed underneath you between your feet and the water as they get nearer to bedtime.
Ultimately they all roost under the Palace Pier. You can hear all of them cheeping away as you wander back towards the shore.
Awesome stuff! Truly a wonder of nature.