These mesmerising pictures captured on Portland show optical illusions created by murmurations of starlings.

Sean Hepburn, 55, has photographed starlings and other birds, including gannets and ravens, flocking on the Isle of Portland for the past six years.

The amateur landscape photographer, from Weymouth, Dorset, took an interest in starlings after being amazed by the birds flocking habits.

Murmurations are the flocking of starlings, which can involve thousands of birds flying in complex aerial formations.

Sean uses multiple exposures, taking around 200 pictures in just five seconds, to create his interesting pictures, which include the Portland Bill Lighthouse and the scenic the Jurassic Coast.

His pictures show eye catching spiral shapes as the birds' flight path is captured.

The grandfather-of-three said: "I focus on starlings because they make quite spectacular pictures.

"I look out for the murmurations and take up to 200 pictures and put them together to make the montages."

Sean has spent around 20 years photographing landscapes and has combined his long term passion with his newfound love of snapping starling murmurations.

However he claimed it takes coordination and can be quite tricky to get his shots right.

Sean said: "I've been a landscape photographer for years and wanted to get these images with landmarks in the background.

"They create optical illusions and helices, like a spiral staircase.

"They look ethereal.

"They've been photographed over the past few months.

"You'd think it would be easy but it can be quite difficult to get them near landmarks.

"You need to be ready and preempt what they're going to do.

"I probably spend two to three hours on Portland a day or two each week.

"I've spent the last six years photographing there - you get really great pictures."