It was starting to get light as I was standing waiting on a snow covered field next to the plantation where thousands starling roost for the night at Tarn Sike in Cumbria. I could here the birds chattering getting louder and louder, then suddenly at 7.55pm without warning the whole massive flock decided to leave the roost at once and lift off into the sky. It took about a minute for all the many thousands of birds to vacate the pine plantation. I was not expecting this to happen, I just thought they would leave in small flocks. I did managed to get my camera and tripod setup and captured thirty seconds of footage before the starlings disappeared to their feeding grounds in the surrounding countryside.

Taken on Saturday 20th January 2018 07.55 at Tarn Sike nature reserve Westmoreland Dales Cumbria UK.