Swooping starlings
At this time of year thousands of starlings flock together at dusk in a formation called murmuration.
Swooping starlings captured in Leamington Spa
ITV News Central viewer Dave Atkinson, has captured on video a flock of starlings in Leamington Spa.
The natural 'black cloud' is considered by RSPB as 'are one of the UK's most incredible wildlife spectacles.'
Throughout the autumn and winter months, hundreds of thousands of starlings turn the sky black around the UK. The birds come together in huge clouds, wheeling, turning and swooping in unison.
The gathering and swooping of starlings is known as a 'murmuration'.
Starlings join forces for many reasons. Grouping together offers safety in numbers – predators such as falcons find it hard to target one bird amidst a hypnotising flock of thousands.
Starlings also gather to keep warm at night and to exchange information, such as good feeding areas.
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