However, on closer inspection they are incredible birds with feathers a wonderful sheen of glossy purples and greens and a cheeky character, mimicking many of the sounds that they hear.

At this time of year, starlings can also provide us with one of nature's best wildlife spectacles and you can see them in action at the RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve.

In the late afternoon all the feeding flocks join up to form progressively larger flocks before becoming a 'murmuration' of tens of thousands of birds in a winter roost site. You might have seen the jaw-dropping, swirling cloud-like formations on the television in the 'Carling' advert or on Autumnwatch, before being brave enough to drop in waves into their roost site.

The vast reedbeds at RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Silverdale are an ideal spot to see this starling display and visitors can often experience this amazing sight before dusk throughout the winter.

"It's an fantastic moment to see the sky full of starlings and to hear the loud 'whoosh' as they fly over above your head. I can become entranced by the different shapes of the birds wheeling around and I'm always astounded as to how they do it,"said Jen Walker, visitor and publicity officer at the reserve.

"It also makes me smile when they all loudly chatter to each other before all becoming quiet at once when they are settled for the night."

This year staff and volunteers at this popular local attraction are running a 'Starling Watch' from Monday November 17 to Friday, November 21 from 3 pm to dusk and are inviting people to come down and join them to watch them roost.

They roost every night in the reedbed but to see the spectacle it is best to watch out on a fine afternoon. Just turn up at the visitor centre before 2.45 pm to be directed to the hide where the starling watch is taking place. It is a free event for all. Please call 01524 701601 or see www.rspb.org.uk for more information.