14 Common Cranes in Caithness

[kas]

As far as I am aware this is a Scottish record for the largest flock of Common Cranes. They were found by Hugh Clark on Saturday at Thuster Farm. I was working when I got a phonecall to say they were there, so I never made it out until Sunday morning, and by that time only 3 were left. 11 were seen in flight near Lossiemouth on Sunday at 1400hrs. So it is very likely that this was the other 11. Last I knew the 3 remaining birds were last seen flying away from Thuster on Monday morning. Nearby gunshots probably discouraged them from hanging around, although they may have not gone far and could easily have returned later in the day.

Does anyone know if they have been seen since Monday?

[kas]

The cranes were feeding whilst I was there and did not rear their heads much, and any time they did I always ended up with blurry shots, hence there being no good ones of them with their heads raised.

[spurtle]

Fantastic birds - this looks like the svannah, not Thuster! We had one on our farm two years ago - such a graceful exotic looking creature - we felt quite privileged to be visited even for a short time
Do hope they come back

[philupmaboug]

Saw some tall birds in a field around Bower on Sunday at midday! sort of stork shaped. Was that them?

[kas]

Saw some tall birds in a field around Bower on Sunday at midday! sort of stork shaped. Was that them?

Yes that is them, the remaining 3 have been hanging around there this weekend.

[Kenn]

Thanks Kas for the report and taking the time to photograph the evidence.
Oh well that's another treat I missed.

[r.rackstraw]

The cranes were still there, today 31 Jan. Three of them in a tattie field at Lower Hastigrow.

[kas]

3 of the Cranes were still in between Bower and Hastigrow over the weekend.
There were another 2 a few weeks back but they did not hang around long.

[Foxy]

3 of the Cranes were still in between Bower and Hastigrow over the weekend.
There were another 2 a few weeks back but they did not hang around long.

The cranes have been in the field at Hastigrow since a couple of weeks now.

[WeeBurd]

Hubby was just saying he saw three flamingo-like birds out Hastigrow way yesterday - just showed him the pics on here, and he's says "Aye, that's them".