Starling murmuration

[Simon Davis]

This was taken on the weekend at Otmoor, an RSPB reserve in Oxfordshire. The reedbeds provide the ideal roosting site for the starlings and they come together in the evening before diving down into the reeds. This was the first time I have photographed (or seen) the starlings like this, it's quite a spectacle.

7D mk II @ 17-55 f/2.8 @ 55mm, f/4, 1/200 sec, ISO 1600

[Colin Driscoll]

Nicely shot. They are amazing to watch as they wheel around.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Very cool. I love the setting. You must have seen some neat patterns out of that moving flock! If mine I'd crop down from above to 3:2 ratio, and punch up the colours a bit more. A fine image, I like it lots...and not often you can photograph birds at 55mm

[Simon Davis]

Thanks - yep got quite a few frames, at times 55mm wasn't wide enough :)



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[Simon Davis]

If mine I'd crop down from above to 3:2 ratio, and punch up the colours a bit more.

Sorry meant to say I did increase colours a bit in post. I processed as two layers to get the foreground brighter whilst keeping colour in the sky. I tried increasing the colour of the sky more but it started to look a bit unnatural to me.

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[William Dickson]

Fab looking frame.. I like the look of the birds against that lovely BG Good POV and the grasses add, as does the water in the FG. Great colours throughout.

Well done Simon

Will

[annmpacheco]

Wish it was my image!!! Love this, the many layers, the colors and the stars: starlings! One of my very favorite treasures of nature. Would love to see a pano crop of this as a suggestion. Are you a regular there or did you stumble upon this? Wonderful

[Simon Davis]

Wish it was my image!!! Love this, the many layers, the colors and the stars: starlings! One of my very favorite treasures of nature. Would love to see a pano crop of this as a suggestion. Are you a regular there or did you stumble upon this? Wonderful

This was the first time I've been to this reserve although i've known about it for a while. Its well known for the starlings so not a surprise.

It's an hours drive so not too bad to get to, will definitely be goimg again. Great site for Marsh Harriers as well although didnt get a great shot of them on this visit.

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[Bill Dix]

I love this. I've witnessed the behavior, but never been able to photograph it. You were fortunate (and skilled) to get it with a good environment and lovely sky color. You might want to use a higher SS next time, if the light allows.

[Glenn Pure]

Great work Simon. The sky colour and environment really make this one for me and you've handled that really nicely. Must have been quite something to see and exciting enough just in this image. Nothing I'd change here.

[Isaac Grant]

I really like this image. Beautiful scenery and light. I have seen these murmurations many times and they are always memorable. I wouldn't change a thing.