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The Birds Of South Gloucestershire          Common Crane - grus grus

 

Common Crane is also known as Eurasian Crane and is a bird of the family Gruidae. It is a long distance migrant wintering in Africa found south to Morocco and Ethiopia, southern Europe and southern Asia south to northern India and eastern China. It is omnivorous eating leaves, roots and berries including notably the cranberry, (which is probably named after the species), insects, small birds and mammals.

 

There have been twelve Common Cranes reported from S. Gloucestershire;

 

2012:(3)

Three were seen flying north over Kingswood at ST: 658 740 at around 110:00 on April 5th. (Roger Tippett)

 

2010: (1)

One was seen in flight heading north over Aust Warth around 09:30 on March 2nd. (Kevin Bainbridge)

 

2008: (1)

One was seen at Oldbury Power Station on May 4th from Lagoon II at around 16:00 flying north-east before being lost to view just seconds later. (Matt Plenty)

 

2003: (5) HIGHEST COUNT (5)

On February 25th a presumed family party of five were located in stubble fields at Tortworth. The group consisted of two adults and three sub adults and were present in the area until March 2nd. (PJ Taylor)

 

 

Common Crane at Tortworth. February 2003. Gary Thoburn left and Paul Bowerman.

 

2000: (2)

Two were noted on January 3rd over Severn Beach. They were seen in flight heading low eastwards and watched heading inland where they were lost to view. This occurrence constitutes the first report of this species for S. Gloucestershire. (Brian Lancastle)

 

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