Not a murmuration but a perturbation of swooping starlings

A vast flock of starlings provided a spectacular aerial display over the fields in the Walton Hole area of Cringles Lane on March 11th.

At times they tumbled in such packed profusion to almost resemble a swarm of giant bees. Just as suddenly they reassembled in a frame-filling airborne dash before swooping low left and then right, barely clearing the stone-wall tops.

Incredible aerial displays, called murmurations, at dusk are one of nature's highlights in the colder months but this flock was restlessly on the wing at midday, maybe a rehearsal or perhaps stirred by the prospect of soil invertebrates to feed on in nearby fields newly spread with farmyard manure.