Twitchers spot incredible formation of starlings flying in Somerset

This spectacular starling formation wowed birdwatchers in Somerset this week.

The magnificent sight, which saw a huge gathering of the birds fly in a mesmerising swoop, happened at around 5.45pm on Thursday.

Sarah Townsend, a marketing copywriter from Gloucester, travelled to see the spectacle at Avalon Marshes.

She told the Standard: "It was incredible. It was the first time I'd seen one and it was spectacular."

Ms Townsend said around 50 people gathered in the same spot and all stood with "smiles on their faces" as they watched on in awe.

"It was just such an amazing atmosphere," she said.

In starling murmurations thousands of the small birds fly together in what the RSPB describes as "basically a mass aerial stunt".

A page detailing the phenomenon from the RSPB says: "We think that starlings do it for many reasons. Grouping together offers safety in numbers – predators such as peregrine falcons find it hard to target one bird in the middle of a hypnotising flock of thousands.

"They also gather to keep warm at night and to exchange information, such as good feeding areas.

"They gather over their roosting site, and perform their wheeling stunts before they roost for the night.​"