Starling murmuration by Colin Jakes
Starling murmurations
Starlings will be gathering in large numbers to protect themselves from predators. The enormous flocks fly in spectacular sequences called murmurations. It is thought that starlings form murmurations to visually confuse birds of prey who hunt them.
It's best to view the starling murmurations as dusk falls and they come in to roost, usually in a reedbed.
Good places to see starlings are Lackford Lakes, Redgrave & Lopham Fen and Hen Reedbeds. Check our facebook page for reports of starling murmurations.
Winter waders
Wading birds visit Suffolk's estuaries in vast numbers at this time of year. Best viewed at high tide, when they are jostling for space to feed on invertebrates in the mud. Trimley Marshes, Dingle Marshes, Mickle Mere, Alde Mudflats, Levington Lagoon and Lackford Lakes are good places to spot waders. Species to look out for are:
Lapwings travel from Northern Europe
Photograph: Darin Smith
Dunlin travel from Scandinavia
Photograph: Bob Coyle
Knot travel from Canada
Photograph: John Lewington
Oystercatchers travel from Iceland and Norway
Photograph: Darin Smith
Redshanks travel from Iceland
Photograph: David Cargill
Grey plovers travel from the Arctic.
Photograph: Derek Moore
More species to look out for this month:
Go beachcombing - can you spot these treasures?
