
Stunning photographs have emerged of the dazzling moment tens of thousands of budgies are tornadoing through the sky in a vivid spectacle.

British photographer Paul Williams - producer and director at the BBC Natural History Unit - was treated to a mesmerising display, with the murmuration of birds creating breathtaking patterns above a shrinking waterhole in the Australian outback.

The budgies - a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot or parakeet - flocked in droves to brighten up the sky as a tornado descended in desperate search for scarce water in the heart of the country.

Stunning photographs have emerged of the dazzling moment tens of thousands of budgies tornadoing through the sky in a spectacle

Thousands of colourful budgies flocked into the shrinking water hole to drink in the Australian outback

Frantically flapping to get to shore, their swoops and dives formed colourful shape-shifting clouds to protect themselves from predators.

Mr Williams had embarked on a journey to track down the enchanting action of the murmuration of the birds forming over the shrinking water hole.

'Using Google Earth I pin-pointed a number of small waterholes, and eventually came across one that was littered with little green feathers and fresh droppings,' he said.

'It wasn't long before the sky above me was filled with the flutters of thousands of budgies - as many as 80,000 - a green tornado circling around the waterhole, all desperate to drink before the sun got too hot.'

For seven early mornings, Mr Williams and his crew watched as the incredible budgie tornado unfold before their eyes until a severe thunderstorm swept through the desert. With water everywhere, the birds dispersed and the great event was over.

Tens and thousands of colourful budgies were spotted in the Australian outback as they descended in a desperate search for scarce water

Frantically flapping to get to shore, their swoops and dives form colourful shape-shifting clouds to protect themselves from predators

British photographer Paul Williams was treated to a mesmerising display, with the murmuration of birds creating breathtaking patterns

Stunning photographs have emerged of the dazzling moment tens of thousands of budgies gathered in droves to brighten up the sky

The budgies - a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot or parakeet - flocked in droves to brighten up the sky as a tornado descended