When is the best time to see Brighton starling murmurations?

Over the last few months, hundreds of birds have regularly gathered in huge swarms around the city's two landmark piers and put on quite a show.

The masses move in unison, flitting above Brighton Palace Pier and West Pier against the backdrop of beautiful pink and orange sunsets - much to the delight of the onlookers and photographers.

Vet and broadcaster Marc Abraham, more commonly known as Marc the Vet, has been avidly following the murmurations in the city over the past few months.

A starling murmuration above Brighton Palace Pier
He said: "Like every animal-lover in Brighton and Hove, I feel so fortunate to have been able to witness the starling murmurations over the winter months, right here on our doorstep. 

"Their swirling clouds of mesmerising shapes and incredible dance moves, before roosting for the night under Brighton's Palace Pier, really has been the perfect antidote to the third lockdown and darker evenings. 

"Like many of us I'm sure, I already can't wait for them to return next winter, and show us all again just how wonderful and inspiring our local nature can be."

But what are these murmurations doing there, and how much longer do we have until these birds move on to pastures new?

A starling murmuration above Brighton Palace Pier
What are starling murmurations?

A murmuration is the name given to large groups of starlings which gather and fly as a flock - dipping, diving and swerving in unison. It is believed the name stems from the fact that the movement of the group creates a murmur-esque sound.

Starling murmation by Brighton Palace Pier
Why do starlings do this?

One reason starlings gather in murmurations is to stay warm at night, with the Starlings in the Sky website reporting that the combined body heat of thousands of birds can "raise the surrounding air temperature by a few degrees". 

"This could mean life or death during the bitter cold winter nights," the website states.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) says starlings also come together to "exchange information, such as good feeding areas".

But the key function of murmurations is for protection - as seen in the video below captured by Marc Abraham in which a group of the birds fend off an attempted assault from a Peregrine Falcon.

Where can you see murmurations?

Starlings gather over their roosting site, performing their hypnotising aerial acrobatics before roosting for the night - hence why we are able to repeatedly see them around Brighton Palace Pier.

Starling murmation by Brighton Palace Pier
When can I see Brighton's murmurations?

Autumn roosts tend to start to form in November, although they have been known to begin as early as September and October. As the weeks go by, murmurations are likely to grow as more and more starlings join the roost.
Autumn roosts tend to come to an end in February.

It is during this roost that the murmurations are at their most impressive, with native starlings being joined by migrant birds from colder parts of Europe.

The best time to see their aerial displays is in the early evening, just before dusk, the RSPB advises.  

Click here to visit the profile of @marcthevet and see more footage of the murmurations in Brighton>>>