A Flock of Cranes!

I spent an early lunch break photographing the returning Swallows at work, when a line of large birds in the distance way to the north of me caught my eye...

My first view.  They were probably well over a mile away when I first spotted them

Common Cranes.  Fourteen of them!

I have not mastered flight shots yet!  Although in my defence they did remain high

I spent the next eight minutes or so watching them slowly make their way south west down the river valley, circling around on several occasions, but they remained high and never looked like they were interested in landing.  

Heading away to the west

I lost them as they flew west from Seaton at 11:58ish, but Phil then saw them over Beer and half an hour later they were over Budleigh, now heading north west.  They were next seen at 12:40, over Ottery St Mary, so it sounds like they had turned even more north.

 

Presumably they were birds from the Great Crane Project enjoying a fly around in the clear weather, but when they saw the sea thought twice and headed back home.  I must admit though, seeing a flock of Cranes this size flying over on a clear blue day was pretty cool! And not at all what I expected when I woke up this morning! 

Thanks so much for reading.