Breathtaking Air Display By Thousands Of Birds

AMAZING starling murmurations have been mesmerising visitors to Pembrey Burrows over the last month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carmarthenshire council’s countryside officer Simeon Jones said they estimated more than 12,000 birds had been involved in the astonishing aerobatics over the dunes, beaches and burrows between Pembrey Country Park and Burry Port Ashponds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Simeon said: “Pembrey Burrows has always been a popular roosting area for the starlings over the autumn every year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have never seen the roost as big as it is this year and the extraordinary patterns the birds make in the sky just before dusk on dry nights of good visibility has been attracting hundreds of visitors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With the mild weather continuing it looks as if the displays could continue over Christmas and into the New Year ” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

County executive board member for leisure services, Cllr Meryl Gravell, said: “Starling murmurations were one of the highlights of the recent David Attenborough narrated Planet Earth 2 series which were described as one of nature’s marvels. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“No-one has been able to explain how thousands of birds can twist and turn and change direction at a moment’s notice in such a co-ordinated and complicated manner. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is another reason to marvel at and visit Pembrey Country Park and its hinterland. It is quite breathtaking to see thousands of starlings flying together in a whirling, ever changing cloudy pattern. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is a phenomenon of nature that amazes and delights those lucky enough to see it and all you have to do is to visit Pembrey Burrows at dusk to be a witness.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​