Starlings' stunning show in Shropshire skies
It is a stunning moment when thousands of starlings put on a show in the skies of Shropshire, twisting in unison.
This dramatic image of a murmuration was captured by Star reader Paul Stanford at Aqualate Mere, near Newport.
It shows thousands of birds creating a spectacle in the sky earlier this week.
Mr Stanford says it was one of the best experiences of his life, adding: "It was absolutely amazing".
A murmuration of starlings can vary in size from 10,000 individual birds to more than 150,000 in some areas.
Shropshire Wildlife Trust says murmurations are becoming increasingly more common in the county's skies. John Hughes said: "Each bird in the flock moves in unison with not only his nearest neighbour, but with six birds either side of themselves.
"That movement, when carried across a huge flock is multiplied and the result to anyone viewing from afar is a constant shape-changing cloud, swelling and twisting across the evening landscape.
"Moving as a flock not only provides starlings an opportunity to communicate between social groups, but also offers greater protection from aerial predators such as peregrine falcons."
"Although the peregrine is the world's fastest bird, its skill is in singling out and outpacing individual birds.
"When faced with a murmuration, it is impossible for them to focus on a target – as they attempt to swoop to grab a starling in mid-flight, the giant flock will shift direction, both vertically and horizontally and confuse the dynamic falcon."
