Starling murmuration amazes Cambridgeshire birdwatchers

Birdwatchers have been in for a treat this week as thousands of starlings have been performing "aerobatics" over a village.

The murmuration of starlings involves "a swooping mass of thousands of birds whirling in the sky above your head... and is an amazing sight", the RSPB says.

People living in Wimblington in Cambridgeshire have been treated to this every evening for several days.

Karen Dhillon, who filmed them, wrote on Facebook: "What's the story with the flock of birds?"

The RSPB believes they do it for a number of reasons - one being that there is safety in numbers.

It also helps them to keep warm and is a useful way of exchanging information such as good feeding spots.

People commenting on the spectacle on social media have described it as "mind-blowing", "awesome", and "a ballet of birds".

However, while others enjoy watching Wimblington's mass murmuration, it caused one woman in the village to cut short her session in a hot tub as she was being "dive-bombed". Another wrote: "Amazing... but they are making such a mess on my car."

The starling population has fallen by over 80% in the UK in recent years, meaning they are now on the critical list of UK birds most at risk.

The decline is believed to be due to the loss of permanent pasture and increased use of farm chemicals, according to the RSPB.