Gemonimo Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 They are on the move! Lunchtime today (north Gironde) - what a fabulous sight. So the spring can't be far behind. Or can it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Hah, beaten you to it, Gem! Mind you, the only thing at which I can "beat" you.............Saw a large flock about a week ago and heard (though not saw) another large flock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Two massive flocks at St Bonnet la Riviere, Correze (19). A wonderful sight - spring is on the way. Yaaaayyyyyy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneySuckleDreams Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 There are about 2000 at the Lac Puydarrieux at the moment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Any chance of some photos please - I've only ever seen them flying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 They are flying over nearly everyday now, making a heck of a racketNot easy to photograph with my low-tech camera, sorry!An even nicer sight is our local church all floodlit at night with the full moon right next to it producing the most ethereal effect and enough to make you weep. But, alas, cannot photograph that either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Never mind - would really love to see some photos of the Cranes, if anyone is can get some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Really jealous of anyone who has seen the cranes. No sign here in the Lot and the weather has been very grey for many days, we did see some blackbirds last week and thought that was a good sign but spotted robins yesterday and today so feeling confused [8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fureys Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Hi!Heard on the birdwatchers' grapevine that 70 000 (seventy thousand) cranes have been counted resting at a lake called Sotonero in Northern Spain. This was a few days ago, but you lucky people in the SW should be in for some spectacular views over the next few weeks, weather permitting.Fureys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Friday afternoon, heard the familiar sound of the cranes overhead and went outside to find them all circling just over the house. They did this for a while, climbing on a thermal, then broke away into the familiar V formation and flew off. Spectacular sight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 [quote user="Suninfrance"]Friday afternoon, heard the familiar sound of the cranes overhead and went outside to find them all circling just over the house. They did this for a while, climbing on a thermal, then broke away into the familiar V formation and flew off. Spectacular sight.[/quote]Oh I wish I had seen that we are just a bit south of you but musn't be on the flight path. Mornings are breaking a bit earlier and we are being serenaded by a very melodic bird but unfortunately I don't know what it is.Despite what I thought was a bad winter the daffodils seem to budding early [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 The birds you are hearing may be the Black Redstart - as I have noticed they have returned over the last couple of weeks.Check out the RSPB website http://www.rspb.org.uk/ as they have some audio files for different bird song on there,. and also a section for bird identification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Many thanks SiF. What a wonderful RSPB website. I think it is a Black Redstart - never had a visit from them before . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fureys Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Hi!Re Black redstarts, a very unusual call, not the song, is like someone crunching on gravel, you'd be surprised but that is the male making a contact call! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Spotted him tonight. I think it's a redstart unless we have both. Probably a bit too nippy at the minute for 'contact' calls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 It could be a contact call. I have noticed the blue tits and great tits are getting their mating plumage and there's a lot of squabbling going on in the garden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneySuckleDreams Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I will try and get a photo to post of the local Cranes as my friend took it.The Black redstarts are here as well. We have a Little Owl making his presence known at the moment, quite rare for these parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin963 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 [quote user="Suninfrance"]Friday afternoon, heard the familiar sound of the cranes overhead and went outside to find them all circling just over the house. They did this for a while, climbing on a thermal, then broke away into the familiar V formation and flew off. Spectacular sight.[/quote]Thank you for that explanation. We'd thought previously when they did that over us that they'd simply got themselves into a battle for supremacy and were in the most frightful muddle about direction and leadership! Should have known nature would have a reason.We see them in the autumn often, but aren't usually in France for the spring return.It's very hard to describe as to just *why* it's such a moving sight, but there are few people we know who don't rush out to see the "spectacle" if they hear the honking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 I think with many people, the return of the Cranes means that Spring is just around the corner. It is always a spectacular sight and sound.Also, using the thermals to gain height means they can rest their wings and let the thermals do the work for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 OH has also seen them resting on the ground. Apparently, they don't look so spectacular whilst not in flight and are quite small birds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Incredible as it may sound, I have just heard a huge flock flying overhead.I'd no idea they fly at night ..........can anyone confirm that this is normal?There's no doubt from the sound that they are cranes and also no doubt that they were flying as the sound was fading towards the north west. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Yes, they fly at night. Another noisy lot flew over us last night about 10.30pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemonimo Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 [quote user="Fureys"]Hi! Heard on the birdwatchers' grapevine that 70 000 (seventy thousand) cranes have been counted resting at a lake called Sotonero in Northern Spain. This was a few days ago, but you lucky people in the SW should be in for some spectacular views over the next few weeks, weather permitting. Fureys[/quote]I think they were ALL overhead here in the Gironde at 5.00p. yesterday![:-))] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex H Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 2 flights yesterday in the Haute Vienne (18:30 so a bit too dark for close ups)[IMG]http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu210/alexh01/CranesMarch2011006.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu210/alexh01/CranesMarch2011018.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu210/alexh01/CranesMarch2011029.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suninfrance Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Great photos - thank you. Around dusk last night at St Bonnet la Riviere, Correze, we had 4 different groups - one after the other - flying across the back of the house. The noise was incredible, I've never seen so many in one go. There must have been over a thousand. Incredible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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