^{Photo Credit: Marco Valk Nature & Films}

Each year in late autumn and early spring, thousands of starlings gather in the marshlands of southwestern Jutland, Denmark, near the Wadden Sea National Park.

This spectacle, known locally as Sort Sol or “Black Sun,” occurs as the starlings come together to feed, avoid predators, and stay warm as the weather shifts. As dusk falls, the sky fills with starlings moving as one, creating mesmerizing formations that twist and shift in unison.

The best time to witness Sort Sol is just before sunset, when the birds’ dynamic silhouettes contrast against the fading light. Højer and Ribe marshes are popular spots to watch, though the phenomenon is visible across much of the Wadden Sea region.

Photographers flock to capture the fleeting beauty of these formations, while locals and visitors alike gaze in awe, immersed in the natural magic of the Sort Sol experience.

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