"Starling flock returning to roost, January 2007"

I have strived for over three years to capture this image. It was taken at an important roosting site for Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in Oxfordshire. Whilst many starlings can be seen at these roosts the RSPB lists the bird as a red list species due to a serious decline in population in the UK (66%) since the 1970’s. It was quite possible to spend the evening viewing up to 60,000 starlings from beside the reed bed. I would have to list this experience as one the most exhilarating in my life. Thousands of starling circling over head gives quite a noise!

I don't normally shoot in Black and White but due to the low light levels and the nature of this subject I decided that this was the most appropriate medium. Most of these images were shot with a 24mm wide angle lens - I wanted to capture a feeling of the habitat they live in and show the reed beds.

Canon EOS 5D, 24mm lens, ISO 640, 1/30sec, f/4.5