When we stopped at the light, I realized that there were many little bugs around my car...just flying around and bumping into the car and stuff. As I sat there watching the swallows, I noticed what looked like mini tornados...kinda grey and off in the distance...but, the weather was nice and not breezy at all.

When the light changed and I drove closer, I realized that these were not tornadoes (of course) but HUGE swarms of bugs all flying in circles together forming a tall column several stories high! There were probably 4 or 5 of them that I could see from the bridge. What do you think was going on?

I wanted to run home and give the bats that live in my woods directions to the bridge! ;-) There were just too many bugs even for the dozens of swallows that were gathering.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

1) A swarm of caddis flies, an aquatic insect that gathers in huge numbers along streams before ovipositing; that is, dropping eggs on the water.

2) It could also have been a swarm of mayflies beginning their final act of female ovipositing, and male fertilizing, both of which take place over water. Once accomplished, the adults die and drop to the water flat-winged. This is called a "spinner fall." Adult mayflies have no mouths, they don't eat, they live but about one full day. Hope this helps. Cheers!

However, its a good sign that the river is returning to health.