One of the most enthralling wildlife experiences in Europe and the World is taking place. The Crane migration is underway, they are passing North back to their breeding grounds.
Their deep trumpeting calls filling the air as wave after wave of these magnificent birds passage overhead.
It is not long before the unfavorable winds bring large numbers of Cranes lower, spiraling around as they seek the thermals that will convey them higher, returning them to their passage route.
At this time of the year here in the Southwest of France, it is normal to witness hundreds of Cranes a day heading North, and for us, this is normally found to be the afternoons. One day though in every year is a very special day, this is when literally thousands of Cranes cross our skies, and this was one of those days.
With the headwinds hampering their journey, many have become tired, looking like parachutists the first birds start to break from the ranks.
Some of these will be individual family groups that will stay together if one becomes too tired to continue.
Here on the floodplain at La Brousse we could see them descending on to the fields between
the rivers Dronne and Brousse.
Overhead more arrive, many seeming to make it through the now Crane jam, only to be forced back by the high winds.
They return to join the melee of what is now becoming thousands.
Cranes stand over one meter tall with long necks and legs their wingspan of just over two meters.
They have to avoid hitting each other, we observed two birds with broken legs.
By the late afternoon, it is truly a spectacle.
All the time more birds join the mass confusion many are struggling to land with some birds also taking off caused by their uncertainty of what to do.
The sun starts to set across the floodplain tinging the Cranes a pinkish red.
The Sun may have set for the day. This, however, is not discouraging for the Cranes, with more arriving after dark.
The following morning with Sunshine spreading across the fields the first birds of the day get airborne. It is still very windy so they are likely to feed rather than continue their journey.
Installed in a hedgerow, out of their sight I wait! It is not long before a few hundred started to arrive.
The sound of their wing beats as they fly directly over my head and the wonderful trumpeting calls.
An adult bird with last years juvenile.
Another group of Cranes flew overhead suddenly unnerving the settled group.
They are off and following.
More and more are rising from the roost, joining the search for food.
This pair of adult birds looking quite splendid.
From their arrival on Sunday, they had stayed with us through the following week. On Thursday, forecasters warned of Winter storm Emma passing through the area. Fortunately for us and the
Cranes we only received some interesting daytime skies!
Thursday evening we watched the Cranes come to roost for the last time.
Friday and Saturday morning we awoke to beautiful weather in the Southwest of France, the Cranes grasped this moment, heading onwards on their incredible journey.
Their deep trumpeting calls filling the air as wave after wave of these magnificent birds passage overhead.
Their journey North from the Winter feeding grounds found in North Africa, Spain, Portugal and the Landes region of France.
It is not long before the unfavorable winds bring large numbers of Cranes lower, spiraling around as they seek the thermals that will convey them higher, returning them to their passage route.
At this time of the year here in the Southwest of France, it is normal to witness hundreds of Cranes a day heading North, and for us, this is normally found to be the afternoons. One day though in every year is a very special day, this is when literally thousands of Cranes cross our skies, and this was one of those days.
With the headwinds hampering their journey, many have become tired, looking like parachutists the first birds start to break from the ranks.
Some of these will be individual family groups that will stay together if one becomes too tired to continue.
Battered by the strong winds it was not long before hundreds were seeking a safe roost.
Here on the floodplain at La Brousse we could see them descending on to the fields between
the rivers Dronne and Brousse.
Overhead more arrive, many seeming to make it through the now Crane jam, only to be forced back by the high winds.
They return to join the melee of what is now becoming thousands.
Cranes stand over one meter tall with long necks and legs their wingspan of just over two meters.
They have to avoid hitting each other, we observed two birds with broken legs.
By the late afternoon, it is truly a spectacle.
All the time more birds join the mass confusion many are struggling to land with some birds also taking off caused by their uncertainty of what to do.
The sun starts to set across the floodplain tinging the Cranes a pinkish red.
The Sun may have set for the day. This, however, is not discouraging for the Cranes, with more arriving after dark.
The following morning with Sunshine spreading across the fields the first birds of the day get airborne. It is still very windy so they are likely to feed rather than continue their journey.
Installed in a hedgerow, out of their sight I wait! It is not long before a few hundred started to arrive.
The sound of their wing beats as they fly directly over my head and the wonderful trumpeting calls.
Unsure some start to eat whilst others appear alert.The ground was frozen, the temperature still minus four degrees in the Sunshine.
An adult bird with last years juvenile.
Another group of Cranes flew overhead suddenly unnerving the settled group.
They are off and following.
More and more are rising from the roost, joining the search for food.
I could see them settling on a far field, sensibly forming a line stretching along its crest, perfect security, with so many pairs of eyes on the lookout!
This pair of adult birds looking quite splendid.
From their arrival on Sunday, they had stayed with us through the following week. On Thursday, forecasters warned of Winter storm Emma passing through the area. Fortunately for us and the
Cranes we only received some interesting daytime skies!
Thursday evening we watched the Cranes come to roost for the last time.
Friday and Saturday morning we awoke to beautiful weather in the Southwest of France, the Cranes grasped this moment, heading onwards on their incredible journey.
