Mystery birds outside work

[Dumpsterkitty]

As I left work last night (near Kingston NY) I saw a line of birds flying north.  My first thought was starlings or grackles, but they seemed bigger and they weren't in a flock-they were flying in a line-some singles, some maybe 2-3 abreast. And the wings weren't gracklish-seemed longer & more "flappy". By the time I got to my car & got the camera & binoculars out the majority of the flight had passed-50-75 individuals, possibly more.  I got some not great pics & video of some of the stragglers.  Then my battery died & my spares were at home.

A part of me wants to see trailing legs like a heron, but I've never seen that many together here in NY.  There is a lake & stream in the direction they were headed.  And what almost looks like talon-tag at the end of the video doesn't seem heron-like.  I'm stumped.  Any ideas what they might be?

 
 
(larger, less clear versions available if you think it will help)

mystery birds flying north

Thanks!

[MAK]

Brian and Joyce just stopped by and he says Crows or Ravens. 

[NoraH]

I was thinking crows too, that's how they fly around here, we've had a lot of them this year.

[Dumpsterkitty]

OK...I've never seen that many all at once around here and they were absolutely silent.

[NoraH]

Every evening here we'll get a flock in trees, not always the same tree every night, but they'll find one to gather in.  Sometimes a couple go to one and a couple to another and then they all end up in one or two trees next to each other.  Apparently some crows will migrate, others will have winter feeding grounds.  This video I found looks like the way yours were flying once you get into it.

HUGE CROW MIGRATION ITHACA, NY - YouTube
HUGE CROW MIGRATION ITHACA, NY

[Dumpsterkitty]

Every evening here we'll get a flock in trees, not always the same tree every night, but they'll find one to gather in.  Sometimes a couple go to one and a couple to another and then they all end up in one or two trees next to each other.  Apparently some crows will migrate, others will have winter feeding grounds.  This video I found looks like the way yours were flying once you get into it.

There is a resident crow flock that roost in the trees on the west side of the parking lot-great view of our dumpster-but it's probably 20-30 individuals.  It's the absolute silence that has me puzzled.  Crows & ravens are a noisy bunch even in flight.

[MAK]

Not always Ei. I've observed our downtown bunch at times flying through over the river without making a sound. 

[Dumpsterkitty]

Not always Ei. I've observed our downtown bunch at times flying through over the river without making a sound. 

I've never seen that before, but I've learned to never say never!  Learn something new every day!  Thanks!