What are they and where are they going? There are so many, its incredible.

Mary MacADNski: They are blackbirds of all kinds that gather and travel together in weird patterns called murmurations. Smaller flocks gather into larger ones and for a couple of months before migration practice these fabulous swooping movements and patterns meant to confuse predators. Here is a link I just ran across with much better photos of murmurations that show whole flocks. The ones I've had hanging out in the pastures behind me are huge - larger than the ones show at this linked page.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=493035&in_page_id=1770

Hitchcock all over the place!

Mary MacADNski: Not scary though.

Like a swarm of mosquitos, but all flying in the same direction.
I like your purple sky too, Mary.

Mary MacADNski: You must have a different monitor than me. This is very sky blue on mine.

Ah, Ginnie took my line.

What an amazing sight, Mary. Thanks to you reply to Aussie, I have also learnt something new this morning. Murmuration! What a great description. (:o)

Mary MacADNski: I hope you had a look at the link I gave to Aussie. Here is another link that shows some even better photo. The bottom photo of a murmuration has a next button that you can hit to see several really great photos. The last one of the bunch is fantastic as it shows just how thick they can be. I'm so lucky to be able to see them from where I'm sitting.

Wow! Impresionante migración. Pero no estoy seguro si hubiera sido mejor tener el enfoque en infinito y las ramas del árbol desenfocadas. Yo no lo sé!

Wow! Impressive migration. But I am not safe if he had been better to have the approach in infinite and the defocused branches of the tree. I do not know it!

Mary MacADNski: I was going to take others at different settings but the birds went away to where I couldn't see them anymore.

Iba a tomar otros en diversos ajustes pero los pájaros salieron a donde no podría verlos más.

the mumuration
dots the sky
birds on wing fly high

Mary MacADNski: Ah, a poet!

Very nice shot Mary. Your picture shows well the birds' high speed

Mary MacADNski: It is really neat to watch them.

Now you have me wondering - They are blackbirds of all kinds - I always thought that a blackbird is a type of bird (not a colour reference). So help me.
Blackbird - a type, or
blackbird - a grouping of birds, or
blackbird is just a colour reference.

Great pic - it looks as if the tree is going to catch itself some birds.

Mary MacADNski: Blackbirds in these fall murmurations include starlings, cowbirds redwing blackbirds and I think grackles join in too but I'm not positive of them. Joining together in large numbers are an advantage to them.

In other parts of North America these birds can join in as they too are members of the blackbird family: orioles, meadowlarks, yellow-headed, Brewer's and rusty blackbirds
Just now, a huge murmuration went by my window heading to the pasture to feed there. They should be taking off for the south soon.

I hope they see the tree ! Nice photo Mary !

Mary MacADNski: They land in the trees and sit for a while making an unbelievably loud noise then take off swooping again.

Link to Rosalyn:
http://www.mountain7.co.uk/m_blog/index.php?/archives/251-Glastonbury-and-the-Murmurations-of-Starlings.html

This is a great shot Mary, real autumn, did they make a lot of noise? Love the pictures in the Daily Mail!!!

Mary MacADNski: They are very noisy, Astrid, and fascinating to me. here is another link about them:
http://www.mountain7.co.uk/m_blog/index.php?/archives/251-Glastonbury-and-the-Murmurations-of-Starlings.html

There was a Television advert here a while back that used these murmurations (I had forgotten what they were called.) It is an amazing site. Trouble is I was so busy watching the birds I can't remember what they were advertising!

Mary MacADNski: I am totally fascinated with them and am so glad I can watch them from this chair.

But where are they going to all together ??? Fantastic !

Mary MacADNski: They are heading south to a warmer climate.

Wow. I like the sharpness of tree against the moving bird. Great capture..

Mary MacADNski: Thanks, Richa. They are fascinating to watch.

Great one Mary, very strange opposition between birds and tree ! Bravo

Mary MacADNski: Thanks, Zebigleb. They're ready to fly south. I would like to as well.

Amazing! I've seen videos of this sort of thing on the television, but never 'known' somebody who's seen it for themselves.

Mary MacADNski: I've got a couple of links in the replies that you might find interesting.

Great shot Mary! Fantastic composition.

Mary MacADNski: Thanks, Carla.

beautifull moment. good capture.i like it very much

Mary MacADNski: Thanks, jasgondomar. They have all flown south now.

Gracias, jasgondomar. Tienen todo el ahora voladas al sur.

Are you sure they are Blackbirds Mary. They look like Starlings to me.

Mary MacADNski: Starlings are one type of blackbird here. Rusty blackbirds, starlings, cowbirds, and grackles all flock together at this time to fly south together.

Thanks for the explanation Mary.
We do get the same sort of gatherings but the flocks are all Starlings.

Mary MacADNski: I'm not at all an expert but it's what I have been told. They are magnificent to see at any rate.