A nature wonder - in late afternoon in winter, starling flocks will congregate and make a swirling cloud-like formation before settling at their roosting site.

The following video was taken around 6 p.m. on 3 March 2007 at Minsmere nature reserve.

[googlevideo]4354046931252164365&pr[/googlevideo] 

Starlings are gregarious and often flock. The flock permits more efficient feeding, since each bird can afford to be less vigilant. The greater vigilance of the flock gives each member a greater protection from predators - there is safety in numbers.

During the winter, starlings live in flocks throughout the day, travelling between feeding sites. Starlings feed up to 20 miles from their winter roost, but return each evening. In late afternoon feeding flocks coalesce into progressively larger flocks as they move towards the roost. Large pre-roost assemblages form in places where the birds can get one last meal before nightfall. At dusk birds from these assemblies fly, often in a swirling cloud-like formation, to the roost.

Minsmere is a nature resereve under the managment of the Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB).  It is near Southwold. We went there after finishing the beach clean in Southwold.