Best winter wildlife spectacles in Britain

By Carys Matthews

Published: Thursday, 11 November 2021 at 12:00 am

Even in the deepest depths of winter there is life to be found in the British countryside, from bright-white mountain hares in Scotland and starling murmurations in Northern Ireland, to red squirrels in Wales and owls in England.

These incredible natural wonders can be experienced on a winter walk and offer the perfect excuse to practice your winter photography skills.

Keep an eye and ear out for these wild sounds and sights this winter with our guide to unmissable winter wildlife spectacles, plus some of the best wilder sounds to listen out for in late-autumn, winter and early spring.

Wildlife spectacles to look out for this winter

Starling murmurations

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The starlings flying over Brighton’s Old Pier at sunset/Credit: Philip Reeve, Getty

Bolstered by winter migrants from Scandinavia and Germany, Britain’s starlings congregate in their thousands at fairly predictable winter roosting sites – usually marshes or reedbeds but also man-made structures – throughout the coldest months of the year.

But before they settle down for the night, they often perform great swirling sky-dances, their sheer numbers creating thrilling images in the late afternoon sky. Finally, just before dusk, the flocks pour into the reedbed and begin to settle down – though their chattering can be like the sound of a distance steam train.

What is a murmuration and why do they happen?

It’s been called the greatest wildlife spectacle in Britain and is remarkable to witness. Studies suggest that starlings congregate in these remarkable ‘murmurations’ to deter possible predators, which are confused by the swirling masses. Despite a recent drop in their overall population, you can still witness the mesmerising sight of thousands of birds performing their aerial dance at dawn and dusk.

It’s thought that the sky-dance – or murmuration – could be a means of confusing predators who gather to take advantage of what looks like easy pickings as well as jostling for the best roosting position. And ornithologists believe that the reason why the birds gather is to share information about where best to go foraging the following day.