WATCH: Incredible sight as FORTY THOUSAND starlings swoop at RSPB sanctuary

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These incredible scenes of a starling “murmuration” are going viral after being filmed and put on social media by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

The sky ballet shows as many as 40,000 starlings swirling and whirling above the wildlife charity’s flagship nature reserve at Minsmere in Suffolk.

Starlings are known to form dramatic flocks prior to settling down to roost, but what makes these scenes so dramatic was the presence of a ravenous peregrine falcon.

By performing the coordinated manoeuvres with speed and precision, each starling’s wing almost touches every time the flock wheels, the effect is to confuse aerial predators such as

peregrines and sparrow hawks.

A murmuration of starlings is an amazing sight, a swooping mass of thousands of birds whirling in the sky above, swooping and diving in unison

“Forgive us for sharing starlings so much, but oh, how we’ve missed this spectacle – nothing so beautiful or exciting as seeing a peregrine stoop at tens of thousands of starlings, art and

life entwined,” said the wildlife charity on Twitter as it released the incredible clip.

As Chris Packham and the Winterwatch team return to BBC Two screens this week, nature enthusiasts are also being invited to enjoy the season’s balletic show at Minsmere in the flesh.

Over the next few days, visitors to the coastal reserve will be able to watch the starlings cavorting over the sanctuary’s vast reedbeds from about 3.30pm.

RSPB spokesman Rupert Masefield explained: “A murmuration of starlings is an amazing sight, a swooping mass of thousands of birds whirling in the sky above, swooping and diving in unison.

It's completely breathtaking to witness.

“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.”

Murmurations can be seen at several sites across the country, with those at Gretna Green, in Dumfries and Galloway, and Brighton Pier, Sussex, particularly spectacular.

Autumn flocks normally start to build from November and by late winter can swell to 100,000 birds at some locations.

“Early evening, just before dusk, is the best time to see them across the UK,” added the RSPB spokesman.

“You don't need any special equipment as it's all visible by just looking to the skies.

“They mainly choose to roost in places which are sheltered from harsh weather and predators, such as woodlands, but reedbeds, cliffs, buildings and industrial structures are also used.

“During the day however, they form daytime roosts at exposed places such as treetops, where the birds have good all-round visibility.”

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