Brighton Beach: Hundreds flock to the sea to watch starlings

People gathered on Brighton Palace Pier and seafront to watch the starling show as they went to bed.

The crowds arrived the day after Brighton’s starlings were featured on hit BBC show Winterwatch, and residents say that’s why the beach was so crowded despite the freezing temperatures.

Steve Geliot, who is co-leading the Save Our Starlings campaign in the city, said: “I think around 5,000 people came to see the starlings thanks to BBC Winterwatch.

“Unfortunately, the cheeky starlings blew a huge collective raspberry and went straight to the roost without much ado.”

Steve Geliot and Louise McCurdy launched their campaign to pressure the council to ban chemical fertilizers that kill insects, the starling’s main food source.

The pair announced victory last month when Brighton and Hove City Council presented a new Downland Estate Plan that will protect starlings in the future.