The first common crane egg laid in western Britain for more than 400 years has been given a round-the-clock guard. The first common crane egg laid in western Britain for more than 400 years has been given a round-the-clock guard, conservationists said. The nesting pair that produced the egg are part of the Great Crane […]
Tag: Common Crane
UK nature reserves attract new bird species
The UK’s nature reserves act as ‘ecological welcome mats’ to new species, according to scientists. Since the 1960s, there has been a natural influx of wetland bird species from continental Europe. Species such as whooper swans, Cetti’s warblers and little egrets have used the nature reserves to colonise new areas of the UK, found the […]
Why do ‘single’ birds dance?
“Mesmerising and with a little bit of mystery about it.” That is how aviculturist Amy King describes the graceful leaping, bowing, running, spinning and grass-tossing of dancing cranes. This unique and spectacular behaviour has been imitated in various human cultures since the Stone Age and the purpose of such elaborate displays is widely understood to […]
More Movement on The Strait
Across La Janda the Common Cranes are getting restless and have been flying around in the warm air getting onto thermals that have been rising across the flat landscape. Family groups have been calling noisily as they exercise their flight muscles and prepare for the long flight home. More cranes arrived this week from Morocco, […]
A Morning’s Birding in January
First of all a Happy New Year to all my readers!We were away for quite a while this holiday period and I was in need of some birding at my local patch, La Janda. Every month of the year there is continual migration through our area and change is apparent almost on a weekly basis.The […]
Late Ortolans
The wet weather continued north and southern Spain was once again bathed in sunshine. Saying that though, rain is forecast for the coming weekend. Back out in the field, La Janda’s tracks are passable with care and you can get through to Benalup from the main N340 road. There are a few sticky bits with […]
The Arrival Of Wintering Cranes
The last week has been pretty good bird-wise. The weather, as predicted let loose an enormous amount of water in Cadiz province just as I was returning from Eastern Germany & Poland. My flight from Berlin to Barcelona was delayed while they found a slot around more autumnal storms that were creeping up from the […]