STARLING EFFORT: Picture captures sparrowhawk attacking a murmuration of starlings which had formed into perfect circle

The snap was taken by amateur photographer David Smith, 64, as dusk fell at Storton's Pits wildlife reserve near Duston, in Northampton, last Thursday (26/11).

Sparrowhawks are known to feed on other birds, including starlings - although only ten per cent of its attacks are thought to be successful.

David, a mental health worker, said: "I was waiting for the murmuration to start and had been there about an hour.

"I knew that there was a pair of sparrowhawks that usually predate on the starlings as I am a regular visitor to the reserve. It's local to where I live."