You have to be there to experience it. Way cool. The Blue Angels performed several times each day over several days (practice runs before the weekend). So there were ample locations to catch photos like this. My wife and I were on the Pier 39 upper floor at the pier end overlooking the bay last weekend, but didn’t have our cameras with us. There was one time a flock of about 20 large birds took off from the roof above us, in a V-formation that perfectly matched the formation of the Blue Angels in the background in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. In the next 3 seconds or so the birds flew towards the Blue Angels just as the jets broke formation to go vertical. Everyone screamed out in delight, especially the ones with cameras. Perfect weather with clear skies, nice hot day.
It was my honor to serve in the USAF, 68-72, as s Security Policeman. I spent 2 1/2 years at Nellis AFB (Las Vegas, Nevada) where the Thunderbirds are based. I never grew tired of watching them practice when they weren’t on tour in their loud, big and powerful F-4’s. Years later I saw them at a Beale AFB (Northern California) air show when they had switched to the F-16’s and was amazed at their nimbleness (vectored thrust). Returning to Las Vegas next month for the first time since I left in ‘72 to see the last air show of the season and re-trace some old steps in the area and note the changes. Also saw the Blue Angels a few years back during Fleet Week in San Francisco in their FA-18’s. Just awesome.