Flight Plan

The starlings had been gathering over Worthing Pier for about a week, and I'd been down to photograph them several times without much success—they'd either disperse too quickly or the light wasn't quite right. This particular February evening, everything finally came together.

I positioned myself on the beach with Worthing Pier in the background, ready to capture whatever the birds decided to do. As the sun dropped toward the horizon, painting the sky in soft oranges and purples, the flock suddenly erupted into action. They swept across the sky in a perfectly coordinated wave, their silhouettes creating this beautiful fluid shape above the pier. The timing was extraordinary—just as they passed, the colours in the sky reached their peak intensity.

What makes starling murmurations so captivating is their unpredictability. You can never plan exactly what pattern they'll form or when. As a photographer, you have to be ready, anticipate the movement, and hope for a moment like this—where the birds, the architecture, and the evening light all align into something magical. Worthing Pier has become one of West Sussex's best spots for witnessing these winter spectacles.

When you look at this photograph, I want you to feel that rush of excitement that comes from witnessing nature's choreography—thousands of starlings moving as one, creating art in the sky above one of Sussex's most beloved coastal landmarks.