Thursday, February 24, 2011

SWF...on the way to Bombay Hook

These shots are from last Sunday when hubby and I took a daytrip to Bombay Hook NWR. We were not too far from home and we were watching the moon setting while we driving. 

Click on the photos for a larger image.


                                    The first shot is the moon from our yard.


Another sighting of a large flock of blackbirds. They could be grackles or starlings? We stopped the car to watch these birds. They just seem to keep coming more and more and  at one point the sky looked black.



As more birds were flying along I got a shot of the moon with the blackbirds.


As more and more birds came along the moon was harder to see.


This had to be the largest flock of birds I have ever seen. There was a long line of of them as they flew along the road we were driving on. You can still barely see the moon in the background.




This shot was taken on the same road just before the birds appeared.  I love these early morning pinks and blues.


The sky with these birds and the moon was an amazing sight to see. To see more beautiful skies check out Skywatch Friday.  Thanks to the host: Sylvia, Wren, Sandy, Fishing Guy and Klaus.

Also thanks for visiting my blog and I hope everyone has a great weekend.


51 comments:

Jo said...

Hi Eileen, what a flock of birdds. Well done on capturing them so well on camera. I love your sunrise too. Off to visit your hubby (we are appalled at the trees being felled here in East Africa, and how it affects the wildlife and birds.) Greetings Jo

diane b said...

Thats an amazing flock of birds. reminds me of Alfre Hitchcock's movie, "Birds". Great shots.

rainfield61 said...

I have not witnessed such a big flock of birds.

The world looked black because of them.

936000 said...

Gorgeous shots of the moon (of course). And, even if they are so-called "pest" birds like starlings, it is an(what word?) amazing and somewhat fey (yeah-that's the word) feeling to be in that large of a flock. How cool for you and your hubby!
Hope you have been having a great week!

meggs.

Anonymous said...

Seeing that many birds remind me of the movie "The Birds"! Those are cool-looking photographs of the birds and the moon!

Jen Sanford said...

Yowza that's a lot of birds!!! Great shots!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Oh my goodness.That is an amazing sight.My jaw almost dropped as I looked at these images.WoW!

TexWisGirl said...

That WAS a HUGE flock! We keep enough here to eat all of our feed several times a day, but not that many (thank goodness!)

Anonymous said...

Hi Eileen, Isn't it amazing how many birds can be in a migratory flock? Super pictures. Have an excellent day today!

Kilauea Poetry said...

Eileen..seems your always in the right place at the right time! Well I've never seen this many either..I commented on a blogger from Poland last week who took a few shots of blackbirds that congregated in a forested area near her house..but it looked so unusual (with one lone but large pheseant in the bunch) we have Myna's..but this takes the pie (lol)..oh, what is truly incredible are the moon shots with them in flight like that!! Of course the ones outside are really captivating:)

Bob Bushell said...

The birds were awesome, you took some very good pictures, well done Eileen.

Kim, USA said...

Wow that is so pretty and unique. Seems like you always have a luck with birds. Great shot with the moon.
Full Moon

Sylvia K said...

Wow! that is a LOT of birds!! And what terrific captures you got! Beautiful colored skies as well -- well, when the birds moved on so we could see them!! Fantastic! Hope you have a fun weekend -- the birds too if they're still around!

Sylvia

forgetmenot said...

Lovely shot of the moon. Can't believe you had that large of a flock of blackbirds flying over--wow! Mickie

Kay L. Davies said...

Amazing series of photos, Eileen. To catch the moon almost blacked out by birds - doesn't happen often in a blogger's life! Good for you.
-- K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Andrea said...

Oh My God, that's a lot of blackbirds! It looks like they are invading us! Do you know what kind of birds they are. When i visited Ooty i saw lots of black birds or crows. They are carnivorous and very intelligent. I wonder if they could be dangerous if very plenty.

Lorac said...

You have outdone yourself! Amazing photos. I always get a kick out of the blackbird flocks like this.The last shot is so pretty with the pastel colours.

Anonymous said...

That's amazing! I've heard of large flocks like that, but never seen one. You're very lucky to not only see but have your camera handy.

Carver said...

Amazing how many black birds you got in some of these shots. I particularly like the mass of birds with the moon.

Marvin said...

Wow! What a great flock of birds. Your photos of them with the moon in the background are awesome.

Rajesh said...

Wonderful shots. The birds covering the entire sky look great.

Lina Gustina said...

Wow, I love seeing all!
Awesome shots, Eileen...

http://www.womenandperspectives.com/2011/02/sky-watchkujang-monument-2.html

Carletta said...

I knew there would be remarks about "The Birds" movie. Your image brings it to mine more than others I've often seen. :)
Great shots with bird and moon and that last shot is lovely.

Chubskulit Rose said...

Oh lala what a swarm if birds, great shots Eileen!

Harold Stiver said...

The blackbird flock images are fabulous. Well done!!

Regina said...

How amazing!
Such wondrous captures Eileen.
Have a great weekend.
Regina

SquirrelQueen said...

What a huge flock of birds, I have never seen that many before. I love the photos with the moon behind the flock.

Gemma Wiseman said...

Incredible skies seething with black wings! Almost a scarey sight! Fantastic shots!

Anonymous said...

wow! What birds are these?
It will be a real bird strike if a plane happen to come in line with the flock.

Dhemz said...

oh my gosh....tons and tons of birds....wow! awesome photos...great shot!

Check out my SkyWatch Friday entry too. Thanks!

NatureFootstep said...

wow, that is almost scary. So many birds! puh. Must have been a special occation to watch them.

FAB said...

Awesome flock covering the sky. Have a great weekend Eileen.

Maude Lynn said...

Yikes! That reminds me of the Hitchcock movie. Great shots!

Kathie Brown said...

Eileen, this has to be one of the best Skywatch posts I have ever seen! I have never seen a flock of birds that large! Amazing! Wow! Stupendous!

Ramosforest.Environment said...

Beautiful.
Luiz Ramos

Unknown said...

Amazing shots. I love the bird too.

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

Hello!
Congratulations!Wonderful photos!

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

That is one huge flock of birds, wonder if it is blackbirds heading norht?

Johnny Nutcase said...

that flock with the moon- how cool is that? Excellent shots Eileen!

AVCr8teur said...

That is A LOT of birds. I think I would have ran inside and not be brave enough to try to photograph them out in the open. Nice job including the moon with the birds.

giorno26 ¸¸.•*¨*•. said...

Fantastica immagine !
Non ho mai visto tanti uccelli così insieme.
Ciao Myriam :)

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Wow, what awesome views of the sky, with and without all those birds! Were the birds noisy?

DeniseinVA said...

Hi Eileen, Incredible to see so many birds, almost blotting out the moon. Fantastic shots all of them.

Anonymous said...

Wow - a whole whirlwind of birds. That is amazing and oh, so gorgeous!

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

Beautiful place!

Indrani said...

Whoa! Amazing!
The birds give a great sense of freedom.

Coy Hill said...

What an amazing sight! Capturing the moon in the frames with the birds added to the images.

Trying to look closely at the birds I do believe that they are grackles, not the right body/wing shape for starlings and I've never seen red-wingeds travel in large flocks like that.

wildcatwoods said...

Fab shots. I have never seen so many birds! Lovely night captures.

Carolina Mts

Anonymous said...

That's a lot of birds! It must be thrilling to watch and taking pictures of them..Beautiful sky photos!

VALKYRIEN said...

WOW - that is a lot of birds! never seen anything like it! Great captures!

Linnea said...

Wow! That's really an amazing sight! Those birds were definitely out enjoying the sky!

Happy Monday!

  Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "Happiness is a place between too little and too much." "Find joy in th...