2.How about seeing a flock of birds swarming in the air circling an area, but never diving into the water? It's almost as if they have spotted bait, but can't get to it.
3.The 3rd is all the birds just sitting in a area after they swarmed around it a few minutes?
Cardoc for #2 above it could be that the bait is too deep. They see the profile but cannot reach it, so they circle.
For #3 if could be if they are on the water that again the bait is not within reach and they are waiting for the fish to push it up closer to the surface.
There was a good thread on bird behavior here -
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...ead.php?t=5061