Wow -fire balls in the sky?

Starlings have an irridesence on their feathers. They visit my garden frequently and at times I think they have been bathing in petrol. Could well have been starlings you saw.

How lovely! and weren't you lucky to spot them. Luckygirl its lovely to hear others appreciate sunsets. We have a lovely view of the sun going down over hills from our upstairs bedroom. we look forward to it every evening.

That sounds simply wonderful. I’m quite envious.

We are in the middle of the Persiid meteor showers at the moment. That would be my first guess.

Isn't that just the most wonderfully evocative collective noun -a murmuration of starlings.

I rarely see this type of thing. However, in Somerset we once saw a 'murmuration' of starlings which was quite spectacular.

TillyWhiz, I did wonder myself, afterwards, if they were gulls, because of the white reflection on the underside (I think!) of the wings, but I really dont know. Others have suggested starlings, and that sounds just as feasible.

I feel so lucky to have seen this - though sad too that I can't share it with my late dad. He would have been as thrilled about this experience as I was. My love of the natural world comes from him. He died last September, and every time I see a lovely sunset, a clear starry night, or any other wonder of nature, I think how he much would have loved it as much as I do.
Oh well - one of my aims in life now is to encourage this same passion in my DGC. I look forward to telling them about this when they come for the day on Tuesday.

They were probably lanterns lit up and floating away, don’t you think ?

How wonderful....

Could they be gulls? I have several times seen gulls in the distance going home to roost on nearby lakes and they glint silver in the evening sun.

Eilyann70, I had a similar experience in New Zealand with green seagulls. The lovely green water reflected on the underside of their wings made them much more interesting birds than the common gulls they were.

Mamacaz, that was such a beautiful description, of a wondrous sight. Thank you

Oh Wow, MamaCaz. Thank you for sharing that experience. Isn't it just gobsmackingly amazing when you are lucky enough to witness such a wonder of nature. We had such a moment a few years ago. We were sitting entirely alone on a vast remote beach in Western Australia watching massive green turtles lumber their way up the sand dunes to lay their eggs at dusk. And as we watched the sun slowly dropping into the ocean we saw whales breaching in front of the golden orb of the setting sun. There are moments so rare and precious they are etched forever in your memory.

MamaCaz thank you for sharing this experience. How wonderful nature is. Such a beautiful description. it will stay with me. Thank you

Years ago DH and I, lazing by a hotel pool in the Med, were entranced by the lovely blue birds flying over - until we realised they were pigeons with their plumage reflecting the blue of the pool! Romance gone! (And no we hadn't been on the G&T's!)

night!

How wonderful - isn't it brilliant when things suddenly come together in such a beautiful way.

We are very lucky to have huge windows round our living room and a distant view - every might the sunset is a joy - and every night it is different. Very exciting.

When I am running my singing group each week, people keep breaking off to get up and look at the sunset!

Thanks for the link, Janea. That was my first thought. I've never seen birds that shine in the sun....

Sorry just seen your post Blinko.

Meteor showers Mamacaz?
I'm hoping to see them tonight. It was cloudy here last night.
www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/perseid-meteor-shower-2018-when-14853603

Wish I had seen this!

Perseids?

How amazing!

Fantastic indeed! You can get some wonderful skies at times of storms, the clouds are full of electricity.

What a wonderful sight that must have been. How lucky you saw it