Bird Cloud
Driving home last night I found myself stopped at traffic lights on one of the large roundabouts on the Great Western Way and I as I glanced idly upwards waiting for the lights to change I saw an amazing sight.
What must have been hundreds of small but certainly similar birds were flying in a huge cloud in a circular motion over the busy roadway below. In the fading light it was impossible to see what type of birds they were but their hypnotic motion and the way in which they stayed together and responded to each other to maintain movement in an almost perfect circle was truly remarkable.
Silhouetted against the paling evening sky it was one of those moments when I wished I’d been a pedestrian with my camera rather than a motorist stuck at the lights.
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Don't you want to be right here, right now? 
nigel Beasant Said,
February 15, 2010 @ 9:06 pm
I saw them too..in fact it seems there are two separate groups. If they got together it would be even more impressive.
Paula Livingstone Said,
February 16, 2010 @ 9:32 am
Hey Kieran,
Swarm intelligence is a hot topic these days. Check out my blogpost on the subject:
http://www.paulalivingstone.com/Blog/TechBlog/2009/12/could-ants-power-web3-0-to-new-heights/
Joe Hames Said,
February 17, 2010 @ 1:55 pm
Yeah I agree the two clouds should get together. So much wasted potential. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones should have combined ‘an all.
matthew Said,
March 3, 2010 @ 2:35 pm
Hey Kieran
It’s usually starlings at this time of year.
Surely amongst natures most mesmorising and beautiful sights… certainly London’s!