I heard a very strange sounding helicopter, and while I was watching it pass (as I always watch the choppers flying over my house, wondering if they're on to me ;) ) I noticed THREE other blinking lights, much much higher in the atmosphere, all moving in strange ways. Sounds exactly like what you described. But my attention was caught by the low-flying, very strange sounding helicopter. (Sounded like a really low hum / rumble, but didn't sound like propellers whirring. It was different.)

I thought it was odd at the time, but didn't think much of it until I noticed this thread, being on the East Coast myself.