160, fabulous!

Further great news, we are lucky in Norfolk as we have nearly 40 cranes around the Hickling area.  First came here in the 1970's

Wonderful news.  We regularly 'watch' Cranes in the lagoons near where we have a holiday home in France.  Lovely birds. I hope the family return next year, and the youngster goes on to raise his/her own family.

I was in Dummer See in Germany last week which is on the Western Migration Root.  Whilst there, about 1000 cranes were coming into roost every night at the Rehdener Geestmoor.  A fabulous site at Dawn and Dusk.  By the end of October there should be up to 100,000 cranes in the area although numbers are reducing.

Speaking to the campsite owner he puts the blame on the EU CAP which is having an adverse effect on the birds feeding grounds. Farmers are intensively farming Maize as they get a guaranteed 800 euros a hectare which is fine but it encourages the farmers to plough the fields within 24hours of cutting the crop.  These fields are the favourite feeding grounds of the Cranes so ploughing makes feeding more difficult

I think we've got nearly 50 cranes in Somerset now on one of the RSPB reserves. (Aller Moor area)

Our Norfolk cranes tend to hang around Hickling Broad all year.  A few have moved to Lakenheath Fen where they have been breeding over last couple of years

Cranes? Ainsclough, Coles, and locally Marsh Plant. 

Cranes? Ainsclough, Coles, and locally Marsh Plant. 

never heard of those but the Sandhill, Whooping & Red Crested, yes.

That went down like a lead balloon.  Think mechanical.

Common Crane found dead on the Somerset Levels at end of September, looks like it had been shot.  Hope they catch the culprit.  

Where did you read that Oneputt?