White Storks? (1 Viewer)

froggy2 · Feb 17, 2013

Hi all

When we moved here I didn't realise we were directly below the flightpath for this lot going home. I think they are white storks?

Not a sight you will see in the UK, so thought I would share it.

Please excuse the quality, but they were VERY
high (just black dots), and the camera is a hand held digital compact on 80x zoom!

We are just a little inland of Bordeaux, and they were flying a little east of north, so I assume Belgium way?

StuartReeves · Feb 17, 2013

Cranes. Always a fantastic sight and sound when they're on migration and nice to know they're heading this way.

baphomet · Feb 17, 2013

Common Crane

froggy2 · Feb 17, 2013

And how do I tell the difference?

froggy2 · Feb 17, 2013

How do I tell the difference?
They sounded almost like Turkeys when they flew over!
Over a period of about one hour there were more than a dozen flights of around 100 birds, usually in v-formation, but occasionally, for some reason or other, they would all wheel about for a couple of minutes before proceeding on their way.

tconzemi · Feb 17, 2013

froggy2 said:
How do I tell the difference?
They sounded almost like Turkeys when they flew over!
Over a period of about one hour there were more than a dozen flights of around 100 birds, usually in v-formation, but occasionally, for some reason or other, they would all wheel about for a couple of minutes before proceeding on their way.

White Stork are black and white, Cranes grey and black, you can always hear the Cranes calling grooo grooo like Grus grus Common Crane:t:

jaw · Feb 17, 2013

froggy2 said:
And how do I tell the difference?

Cranes have the neck-stripe
jaw

lou salomon · Feb 17, 2013

slightly longer necks and legs in crane. cranes call a lot and migrate with active wingbeats also. they do V-formations when active migrating. in views like this you see the blackish appearing necks. less protruding legs in white stork. and i think you will not find such a large flock of western storks at your location. they arrive a bit later, too.
http://www.birdphoto.org.uk/USERIMAGES/White Stork(2).jpg
http://www.tatzpit.com/data/Images/תצפית חסידות בנדידה בסוסיתה copy.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R7FtxpSkl.../KoJwtUGajQU/s1600/White+storks+8011+crop.jpg

Sy V · Feb 18, 2013

froggy2 said:
...but occasionally, for some reason or other, they would all wheel about for a couple of minutes before proceeding on their way.

I would imagine this would be because the lead birds had found a significant thermal or two and they ride these in a circular pattern gaining altitude before continuing on their course.

froggy2 · Feb 18, 2013

Thanks to all for the info.
Will have to keep my eyes open for the storks!

dwatsonbirder · Feb 18, 2013

Storks also have whopping kingsize red bills. Greay shots btw, very atmospheric.

White Storks? (1 Viewer)

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