Starlings dancing over Blackpool tower

Shaun Whiteman

Starlings dancing over Blackpool tower

Taken with a Canon 50D, Sigma 17-70 lens at 53mm, F5.6, shutter speed 1/60 second, ISO100, tweaked in Photoshop

Last night I experienced a wildlife spectacular I have always wanted to see. This shot is of thousands of Starling dancing in the sky before they settled down to roost in the reedbeds at Marton Mere (Blackpool, Lancashire). There were many more starlings than this at the end of the night maybe 40,000!!! Blackpool Tower is in the distance.

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Starlings dancing over Blackpool tower by Shaun Whiteman
Starlings dancing over Blackpool tower by Shaun Whiteman
  • Lee-Anne Rafferty-Evans

    Lee-Anne Raffe... 28 days ago

    wow

  • Richard Veal

    Richard Veal 28 days ago

    Instant fave Shaun.
    Really superb photography.
    Well done.

  • Andrew Widdowson

    Andrew Widdowson 28 days ago

    That’s awesome Shaun!

  • Kate Adams

    Kate Adams 28 days ago

    Wow Shaun!! this looks like one huge bird – fantastic capture!!!!

  • Scott  d'Almeida

    Scott d'Almeida 28 days ago

    outstanding,

  • gothgirl

    gothgirl 28 days ago

    what a shot – the birds in the shape of a bird! This is a classic fave – wow is about right

  • Sarah Pett-Noble

    Sarah Pett-Noble 28 days ago

    Incredible capture Shaun!!! Amazing!!!

  • kathy s gillentine

    kathy s gillen... 28 days ago

    this is so awesome Shaun

  • TFFDavid

    TFFDavid 28 days ago

    Fantastic shot Shaun.

  • Lori Peters

    Lori Peters 28 days ago

    Shaun, this is an incredible shot. Great timing! xo

  • Martina Fagan

    Martina Fagan 28 days ago

    Amazingly beautiful shot.

  • Martina Fagan

    Martina Fagan 28 days ago

    Amazingly beautiful shot.

  • Paul Manning

    Paul Manning 28 days ago

    cool, what a great capture! cheers Paul

  • Catherine Veal

    Catherine Veal 28 days ago

    this is absolutely amazing Shaun, an instant fave.x

  • EvaBridget

    EvaBridget 28 days ago

    I saw this spectacular scene on Autumn Watch about a week ago on BBC. What an amazingly beautiful scene!

  • Anna Shaw

    Anna Shaw 28 days ago

    Unbelievable!! Even more – that you were in the right place at the right time. This is a total winner Shaun, and deserves every accolade possible.
    xx

  • Jay Lethbridge

    Jay Lethbridge 28 days ago

    Just fantastic Shaun. An amazing piece of photography my friend. Outstanding. Faved for sure :)))

  • Jessica Jenney

    Jessica Jenney 28 days ago

    Yes, it does look like one giant bird! Fabulous capture!

  • Sue Smith

    Sue Smith 28 days ago

    What a catch Shaun. It’s brilliant.

  • Finbarr Reilly

    Finbarr Reilly 28 days ago

    Fantastic capture Shaun.

  • Maureen Maliha

    Maureen Maliha 28 days ago

    Interesting that the formation in itself, looks like a bird flying… beautiful work

  • Pam Moore

    Pam Moore 28 days ago

    Excellent! Love it!

  • x- pose Klaus Wanjek

    x- pose Klaus ... 28 days ago

    WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Béla Török

    Béla Török 28 days ago

    Fantastic capture, my friend!

  • Isa Rodriguez

    Isa Rodriguez 28 days ago

    magnifico!.. a pleasure to see .. perfect capture of the beauty

  • Lynne Morris

    Lynne Morris 28 days ago

    Wow from me too, this is an awesome capture.

  • Lois  Bryan

    Lois Bryan 28 days ago

    Oh SHAUN!!!!! How FUN!!!! We have starlings here … and as much of a nuisance as they are … it is an extraordinary sight when they “dance” and you’ve captured it sooooo perfectly!!!!!!!! LOVE it!!!!

  • Hertsman

    Hertsman 28 days ago

    WOW – that is some shot.

  • Gouzelka

    Gouzelka 28 days ago

    Wonder shot, excellent image Shaun!

  • babibell

    babibell 28 days ago

    wow! in the shape of a bird too! excellent shot! :D

  • Jason Connolly

    Jason Connolly 28 days ago

    Amazing shot Shaun..

  • palegirl

    palegirl 28 days ago

    Wow Shaun what a spectacular view of nature at is its best, enhanced I think with the local landmark,well done this is fab!

  • David Bradbury

    David Bradbury 28 days ago

    fantastic chot. We have seen these but never had chance to capture this specatcle. Wonderful :-))

  • Mabs

    Mabs 28 days ago

    Wow fantastic capture – always wanted to see this natural spectacle but never managed to – stunning !!

  • 29Breizh33

    29Breizh33 28 days ago

    Stunning shot. Right place, right moment.

  • JacquiK

    JacquiK 28 days ago

    Absolutely fantastic Shaun

  • joak

    joak 28 days ago

    brilliant ..as ye can tell by aw the comments!

  • naturelover

    naturelover 28 days ago

    WoW Brilliant photography Shaun – !

  • FelicityB

    FelicityB 28 days ago

    My favourite of all your pics so far – well done!!

  • Jeff Stroud

    Jeff Stroud 28 days ago

    Wondrous ! great job !

  • Paul Thompson Photography

    Paul Thompson ... 28 days ago

    Amazing mate = Fave

  • PhotogeniquE IPA

    PhotogeniquE IPA 28 days ago

    blimey – how’d you get them to form up like that(!)

    a stunner of a shot!

  • Rachel Davison

    Rachel Davison 28 days ago

    AMAZING!

  • rodeorose

    rodeorose 28 days ago

    Totally amazing catch – you have done so well!

  • jesika

    jesika 28 days ago

    Brilliant and I’m envious! I’d love to see the Starling Dance.
    Great shot, and it fully desreves all the attention it has had.
    j

  • WatscapePhoto

    WatscapePhoto 28 days ago

    Great capture of a stunning spectacle. Brilliant catch, Shaun. I’ve seen ‘em do this in the city and it really takes your breath away. Of course you had the benefit of hearing them as well.

  • Kendra Taber

    Kendra Taber 28 days ago

    amazing shot..there all together to form a bird figure

  • Diane Schuster

    Diane Schuster 28 days ago

    Wow! The flock creates the image of a bird in it’s flight, how cool this is! Dee

  • Anthony Evans

    Anthony Evans 28 days ago

    Well done, perfect composition.

  • Barry Norton

    Barry Norton 28 days ago

    Fantastic capture Shaun

  • lorilee

    lorilee 28 days ago

    Wow – - – a fabulous capture, Shaun!!!!!

  • vanian

    vanian 28 days ago

    brilliant shot,

  • LynnEde

    LynnEde 28 days ago

    One of the best starling shots i’ve seen.

  • Larry Trupp

    Larry Trupp 28 days ago

    Just a wonderful capture Shaun, you were at the right place, at the right time..This looks like it was straight out of Alfred Hitchcock’s movie “The Birds”...inst fave

  • Kathy Reid

    Kathy Reid 28 days ago

    Incredible sight….brilliant shot!

  • trueblvr

    trueblvr 28 days ago

    That is amazing, they are makeing one big bird. I love to watch the flow of birds flying together…..makes me think of schools of fish…..only birds, in the sky

  • Randall Spencer

    Randall Spencer 28 days ago

    Hey, a flock of birds that look like a bird.

    Great shot, timing, light, action, and a strange shot all in one.

  • Dinni H

    Dinni H 27 days ago

    thsi is stunning! birds making a bird!!

  • bobculshaw

    bobculshaw 27 days ago

    Shaun this is absolutely amazing!

  • John  Kowalski

    John Kowalski 27 days ago

    Great shot Shaun, amazing capture!!

  • dawndavies

    dawndavies 27 days ago

    wow outstanding shot, you should send this into the national geographic, its perfect,dawnx

  • dawndavies

    dawndavies 27 days ago

    oh i forgot to add, a celver shot, they ahve also made the shape of a bird too, send this to as many people you can, including the tv channels,dawnx

  • Karen  Betts

    Karen Betts 27 days ago

    this is just wonderful you can feel the movement and the colour in the sky is perfect. Saw a group of birds having a great time mucking about in the strong wind shereyesterday wish i could of pulled over and watched them. A Fav

  • Brian Mellor

    Brian Mellor 27 days ago

    Fabulous shot…!!

  • Svetlana Sewell

    Svetlana Sewell 27 days ago

    wow – Excellent work! they are in the shape of a bird!!!!!!!!!

  • Tania Birch

    Tania Birch 27 days ago

    Nature at it’s best these little birds giving you a silhoette of one big bird. Fantastic capture.

  • ldeiter78

    ldeiter78 27 days ago

    Awesome capture!! Right place at the right time!!

  • LeighN

    LeighN 27 days ago

    Fantastic capture!

  • Larry Llewellyn

    Larry Llewellyn 27 days ago

    Want some more, we have enough to go around! Great shot..

  • Fran0723

    Fran0723 27 days ago

    WOW!! Excellent!

  • Caroline Gorka

    Caroline Gorka 27 days ago

    No wonder you have got so many comments in such a short time …fabulous !

  • jeffrae

    jeffrae 27 days ago

    Amazing capture…had a flock here but a barking dog scattered them before I could grab my camera…so I will have to enjoy your beautiful shot and beautiful it is!

  • jules572

    jules572 27 days ago

    I have to agree with Larry. He forgot to mention the Canada geese, when they come in (hundreds at a time) for a landing, you run for cover.

  • Antanas

    Antanas 27 days ago

    great capture

  • JudyBJ

    JudyBJ 27 days ago

    AMAZING !

  • artwhiz47

    artwhiz47 27 days ago

    This is a scene we see regularly in the open spaces around here, but as so many before me have mentioned, the bird-like shape of the flock is unique! Right place, right moment. Great shot!

  • Krys Bailey

    Krys Bailey 27 days ago

    Amazing sight, Shaun! Great capture!

  • BarbaraManis

    BarbaraManis 27 days ago

    OMG, Shaun! What a brilliant capture! Awesome!

  • Jens Helmstedt

    Jens Helmstedt 27 days ago

    Stunning capture! Excellent!

  • Tom Gomez

    Tom Gomez 27 days ago

    Super capture Shaun …

  • traveller

    traveller 27 days ago

    Great capture Shaun, I can’t believe the shape that they have made!

  • Rinkydink

    Rinkydink 26 days ago

    superb spectacle – well captured

  • Trish Woodford

    Trish Woodford 26 days ago

    Wow, what a spectacular capture Shaun, amazing :)

  • Deirdre Brocklebank

    Deirdre Brockl... 26 days ago

    Stunningly beautiful and amazing.

  • lilian marshall

    lilian marshall 26 days ago

    Stunning . In the right place at the right time .

  • pljvv

    pljvv 26 days ago

    Great picture.

  • Ryan Davison

    Ryan Davison 26 days ago

    stunning capture, excellent

  • dinghysailor1

    dinghysailor1 26 days ago

    superbly captured ! what an amazing sight!

  • JennyMac

    JennyMac 26 days ago

    Wow! What an amazing capture!! : ))

  • Cheryl  Lunde

    Cheryl Lunde 26 days ago

    What a site to capture! Instant fave :)

  • Brandie1

    Brandie1 26 days ago

    Awesome capture.

  • triciamary

    triciamary 26 days ago

    Incredible shot and a definite “right place, right time” moment!

  • kibishipaul

    kibishipaul 26 days ago

    I used to see this so often when I was a kid. Sadly, this is a rare sight nowadays. Fantastic capture, well done!

  • Jellybean720

    Jellybean720 26 days ago

    It is formed like one huge bird… I just love these birds when they do this.. it is amazing.. GREAT CAPTURE :))

  • Steve & Lesley

    Steve & Lesley 25 days ago

    brilliant

  • kathy s gillentine

    kathy s gillen... 25 days ago

  • Danangib

    Danangib 25 days ago

    Amazing shot !

  • Joanne  Bradley

    Joanne Bradley 25 days ago

    Wow, perfect shot, perfect timing!

  • Peter Lusby Taylor

    Peter Lusby Ta... 25 days ago

    Shaun this is beyond belief and should have real commercial value -

  • Gerardo Sánchez

    Gerardo Sánchez 25 days ago

    Awesome shot man!

  • Rachel Leigh

    Rachel Leigh 25 days ago

    Wow,very cool!

  • Phil Threlfall

    Phil Threlfall 25 days ago

    Looks like one big bird. Great shot

  • bobculshaw

    bobculshaw 25 days ago

    Congratulations on the feature Shaun, richly deserved!

  • Heloisa Castro

    Heloisa Castro 25 days ago

    excellent

  • Lachlan Kent

    Lachlan Kent 24 days ago

    Wow!

  • Arrowman

    Arrowman 24 days ago

    Superb Shaun

  • A1000WORDS

    A1000WORDS 24 days ago

    Impressive…

  • Rosej

    Rosej 24 days ago

    Stunning capture – I love the fact that they have formed the shape of a large bird in their migration…

  • lilian marshall

    lilian marshall 24 days ago

    Congrats on your feature . Well deserved . There is a similar photograph in Daily Mirror today but not half as good as yours .

  • Anne  McGinn

    Anne McGinn 24 days ago

    this brought a smile to my face – nature is so perfect and this is so beautiful

  • UnEasy

    UnEasy 24 days ago

    What can I add that hasn’t already been said? Only that a flock of starlings is called either a ‘chattering’ or a ‘murmuration’ of starlings .

  • mikebov

    mikebov 24 days ago

    Brilliant

  • GraceNotes

    GraceNotes 24 days ago

    Absolutely amazing, Shaun. And they do resemble a large bird…moving in unison. It must have been wonderful to witness!

  • hamidsart

    hamidsart 23 days ago

    welldone a lot of congratulations

  • BigD

    BigD 23 days ago

  • Michael Rowley KeepsakesPhotography

    Michael Rowley... 23 days ago

    love the way they have formed the shape of one massive bird in flight !!!
    great capture

  • David Silsbury

    David Silsbury 23 days ago

    Great image, popular too, well done and congratulations on being featured.
    David

  • fortner

    fortner 23 days ago

    I would have commented earlier Shaun but it took me a while to get to the bottom of this list . Great shot , a favourite for me !!!!!

  • Angie McKenzie

    Angie McKenzie 23 days ago

    wonderful shot!!!

  • sendao

    sendao 23 days ago

    Amazing shot Shaun!....

  • hopelilly

    hopelilly 22 days ago

    Wonderful Shot, Shaun. Reminds me of when I was living in Denmark and saw all the swallows getting ready to leave.I felt a huge wrench seeing them fly away.

  • garts

    garts 22 days ago

    Wonderful capture.

  • walela

    walela 22 days ago

    Wow! Looks like one big bird!

  • Roddy Atkinson

    Roddy Atkinson 21 days ago

    Fabulous capture Shaun, something I’ve always wanted to witness too!

  • richman

    richman 21 days ago

    yep, its an amazing sight to watch innit
    nice capture

  • Marie-Louise Avery

    Marie-Louise A... 21 days ago

    That’s a brilliant shot – the perfect moment

  • JayneLogan

    JayneLogan 21 days ago

    i n c r e d i b l e !! What a shot@!

  • Gary Kenyon

    Gary Kenyon 20 days ago

    Fantastic photo, I have seen this on TV and always wanted to see it myself so you must have been over the moon not only to see it but to get this lovely photograph as a permanent reminder of the starlings dancing. Superb.

  • Carlie Hensley

    Carlie Hensley 19 days ago

    Absolutely Fantastic capture Shaun! Wow!!!

  • Tibby Steedly

    Tibby Steedly 19 days ago

    AMAZING and beautiful capture!!! Congratulations on your features!

  • Jolie

    Jolie 19 days ago

    incredible sight to see & beautiful colourfilled composition!

  • tori yule

    tori yule 19 days ago

    Magnificent Capture!!!

  • Liane Pinel

    Liane Pinel 19 days ago

    Fantastic capture!

  • Linda Bianic

    Linda Bianic 19 days ago

    Fabulous,, a once in a lifetime capture,,,, well seen!! instant fav!!

  • Kim McClain

    Kim McClain 19 days ago

  • SusanAdey

    SusanAdey 18 days ago

    What? You didn’t count them individually! :) Great shot, nice colour. Congrats on your feature.

  • Carlie Hensley

    Carlie Hensley 18 days ago

  • NikonJohn

    NikonJohn 18 days ago

    Amazing! Great capture!

  • inkedsandra

    inkedsandra 18 days ago

    I used to see this often too. This is spectacular

  • Bezay

    Bezay 18 days ago

    O O O I just gotta feature this image, it is amazing and exactly what the group is about

    CLICK HERE

  • ANNABEL   S. ALENTON

    ANNABEL S. A... 13 days ago

    unimaginably beautiful

  • IndraniGhose

    IndraniGhose 9 days ago

    Stunning image!
    Great shot!

  • Siju Doniston

    Siju Doniston 4 days ago

    Excellent capture.

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