Do Grey Herons roost together? Camargue (1 Viewer)

George Edwards

Nom de plume

• Jan 5, 2015

• #1

Saw a fantastic sight in the Camargue yesterday at dusk from the car. Many hundreds of what I took to be grey herons flying somewhere in long lines, clouds and Vs. Assumed they would be flying to a roost, but didn't know Grey Herons roosted together as I usually see them on their own. It was difficult to make out from the moving vehicle with the bins, but I thought they had the right colouring and shape for grey heron, or purple heron I suppose. Is this typical for Grey Heron?

 

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aeshna5

Well-known member

• Jan 5, 2015

• #2

Have to say doesn't sound like Grey Herons to me- I've never seen such flocks anywhere in the world. Without a photo we'll never be sure what you did see.

 

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AllanM

Well-known member

• Jan 5, 2015

• #3

Sound like cranes

 

George Edwards

Nom de plume

• Jan 5, 2015

• #4

You're making me regret not getting my companion driver to pull over now…! They were heading south - if cranes (which I did consider, but I didn't think there would be any there at this time of year) would they have been migrating? We weren't that far from the sea - only about 20 or 30 km probably - so they would have to hook right at some point, if going via Gibraltar to Africa.

 

Gladiator96

Well-known member

• Jan 5, 2015

• #5

Yep cranes migrate in winter

 

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AllanM

Well-known member

• Jan 5, 2015

• #6

I believe some Common Crane do overwinter in southern Europe in Spain Portugal and south of France also.