The following images were taken on the second evening.
The birds began to build as the previous evening during which time a Peregrine moved in towards them. It didn’t cut into the group, as I had hoped, but flirted around the edge of the flock before moving off. The Starlings then moved a few hundred yards away, dropping into a reed bed not 25 yards away. The rest of the images here were taken at the time the video post was filmed. Low light levels meant being forced onto slow shutter speeds, but this has advantages too and I continued to work until it was all but impossible; the final shots being taken at 1/4 sec with the 500mm.
There is a point at which abstraction takes over and the images are no longer specifically about the starlings but rather the trace of things. The final two images show  just what an extraordinary bird the starling is. It’s much more than ‘black’ and deserves a little more attention individually as well as collectively.
Impressive collection of images in both parts 1&2, Tim.
Awe-inspiring shapes you’ve captured in these murmurations. True natural beauty.
Almost “suffocating” intensity of the starlings in part one is wonderfully conveyed – must have been an amazing experience.
Noticed in the garden this winter a broad spread of starling appearances from brown (poss. juvs), through typical iridescent blacks to the wonderfully few “jewel-encrusted” specimens you’ve captured here. Interesting to know whether this may be due to a different strain of winter migrants?
Amazing (to me) how the single Peregrine adds to the poignancy of these large flock images above.
Kind regards
Julian
Are they all cock birds in photo no. 1 ?
enquiring minds want to know………
Jim & Tim
Now now both of you! Lets keep the standard up !