THOUSANDS of birds regularly flock together to create impressive views in the skies of Cheshire

The sight of tens of thousands of starlings can be seen swooping and soaring across the Neumann’s Flashes area, just outside Wincham, in an incredible aerial display.

This striking spectacle of nature is said to take place as the birds try to deter possible predators, which are confused and put off their attacks by the dominating masses of swirling starlings.

Adam Linnet, volunteer coordinator for Cheshire Wildlife Trust, said: “These huge starling flocks used to gather over cities like Newcastle, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Belfast, but today you would actually have a much better chance of seeing the birds in rural areas like Northwich.”

More and more birds will flock together during autumnal murmurations, with numbers reaching around 100,000 in some places, according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

The Red Listed birds gather over their roosting site to perform these stunning murmurations at both dusk and dawn, giving the starlings’ movements a picturesque backdrop of hazy pinks and oranges or crisp blues and purples.

Alan Redley, chairman for the Friends of Anderton and Marbury, said: “Northwich Woodlands provide fantastic opportunities to see this amazing spectacle for yourself.

“The best viewings from the bird hides at Marbury Mere are mostly over for this year, but spectacular murmurations are still being witnessed at Neumann’s Flash. Persistence pays off though and it’s worth making more than one visit to witness this amazing spectacle close to the centre of Northwich.”

Starlings are very familiar birds of farmland, parks, gardens and towns and, although the Cheshire Wildlife Trust say these are one of the UK's most common garden birds, the Starling population is in decline.

The number of starlings on record has fallen by over 80 per cent in recent years, believed to be due to the loss of permanent pasture, increased use of farm chemicals and a shortage of food and nesting sites.

Despite the dwindling population, notable murmuration sightings have been reported to the Trust at Rostherne Mere, Runcorn and in Crewe and Nantwich.

Have you taken any good pictures or video of the murmuration? Email them to northwich@guardiangrp.co.uk