'One in a million' photograph captures 60,000 swooping starlings taking the shape of a leaping hedgehog in the dim night sky

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A swirling mass of starlings swoop low in the evening sky, looking for a place to roost – and briefly form the shape of a giant hedgehog, complete with long, pointed snout and beady eye.

The picture was taken by Edinburgh-based photographer Jarlath Flynn near Gretna, Dumfriesshire, on Sunday. He estimates that his ‘one in a million’ shot features 60,000 starlings.

Mr Flynn said: ‘I have been making the journey from Edinburgh to Gretna for the past nine years to watch and photograph the annual starling murmuration.

Giant hedgehog's leap in the dark: The picture was taken by Edinburgh-based photographer Jarlath Flynn near Gretna, Dumfriesshire

‘I have hundreds of really nice photos from past years but this one is truly one in a million.

‘I was using the moon mostly as a background for close-ups but then as I zoomed out to get a wider angle, the estimated 60,000 birds formed into the shape of a hedgehog – with the moon acting as an eye.’

It is believed starlings gather in such large numbers in order to deter predators, such as peregrine falcons. 

It is believed starlings gather in such large numbers in order to deter predators, such as peregrine falcons (file image of Starlings near Gretna Green)