Lancashire Wildlife Trust staff were treated to a spectacle of thousands of starlings flying overhead at our recent full staff day, and bird lovers and photographers alike have been ‘flocking’ over to witness this incredible daily showdown.

At the time of writing (November 2023) we’ve had a huge amount of interest in murmurations via social media and news outlets thanks to incredible sightings at our Brockholes nature reserve, so we’ve rounded up our top places for sightings so that you can get in on the fun!

What is a starling murmuration? 

A starling murmuration is a huge group of starlings that gather to unanimously soar and twist through the sky over their roosting site just before dusk. Hundreds or even thousands can be seen flocking together, swerving and dipping.

It’s thought that they do this to protect themselves from predators, particularly sparrowhawks or peregrine falcons, who find it difficult to target individual birds during murmurations. If you’ve ever been lucky enough to see one, you may have witnessed two or even three flocks combining and dropping quickly to confuse predators.

You can find out more about why starling murmurations form in our murmuration facts blog.

When is the best time of year to see a murmuration? 

The best time of year to see a starling murmuration is between October and March. This is because the starling population increases from autumn onwards as migrants arrive from northern Europe when their native countries become too cold for them.

When is the best time of day to see a murmuration? 

Just before dusk is when you’re most likely to see a starling murmuration. At the time of writing, they can be seen between 3:50-4:30pm swooping over the water at our Brockholes Nature Reserve in Preston.

The general rule of thumb is to make sure you’re ready to spot them just as the sun begins to set. Be sure to wrap up warm and have a hot drink at the ready as murmurations can last a while!

Where are the best places to see a starling murmuration? 

Brockholes

Brockholes Nature Reserve is of course one of the best places in Preston to see one, and one of the best of our reserves to do so as they swoop over our visitor village and the edge of Meadow Lake. Take a seat on one of our benches, wrap up warm and relax with a hot drink from our café under the darkening sky as you get ready to witness a murmuration!

Lunt Meadows 

Lunt Meadows in Merseyside is another great place to spot starling murmurations and is known for brimming with brilliant birdlife all year round. It is also an incredible archaeological site home to one of just a few surviving Mesolithic settlements! 

Wigan Flashes 

One of the top spots to witness a murmuration in Greater Manchester is at Wigan Flashes. As well as being home to large numbers of starlings, it’s also home to 10% of the UK’s willow tits, which is our country’s most endangered bird.  

Other places to visit 

Starling murmurations can be seen at many other sites across the UK – take a look at the Starlings in the UK map here for more information.