Twitchers are flocking to the nature reserve after a flock of around 10,000 starlings swooped into town.

One of nature's amazing spectacles is being played out in the skies over the beauty spot at around 4pm each day, as swirls of starlings head west over the reserve towards Castleford.

Steve Wadsworth, RSPB Fairburn Ings warden, said: "It's the largest flock seen here since the 1960s. I can remember seeing flocks of almost a million birds passing over but we just don't get that any more. To have a roost of this size, with thousands upon thousands of starlings, swooping and swirling in intricate patterns across the sky, is an amazing spectacle. There are few places in Yorkshire where you can see such a large flock, but, suddenly, RSPB Fairburn Ings has become one of them."

Some estimates put the number of birds being seen today at around 10,000.

Laura Bentley, site manager at RSPB Fairburn Ings, said: "For some time, we thought the starlings were heading into Castleford. It wasn't until we sent Nik, our retail manager and keen photographer, to investigate that we had confirmation that they were roosting in the reedbeds on the edges of the reserve.

"We've had a few summer roosts here but never a big winter one. The reedbed on the tips of the reserve has expanded over the years and this is perfect for the starlings finding a place to spend the night."

Safety in numbers, more efficient feeding and even the need to keep warm are some of the theories behind why such huge congregations of starlings form at this time of the year.

Anyone hoping to see this breath-taking spectacle needs to walk to the top of Redshale Road on the reserve's riverbank trail. Call at the visitor centre and staff will be happy to give directions.

In the past 25 years, the number of breeding starlings in the UK has declined by more than half. Fewer feeding opportunities and nesting places are all reasons why these birds are now of national conservation concern.