Overview

Family - Cranes (Gruidae).

The crane is a huge, graceful, mainly grey bird with long legs, a long neck and drooping, curved tail feathers. Small numbers pass through Britain in spring and autumn, and there is a tiny breeding population in eastern England. Numbers in Europe have declined over the last 300 years because of disturbance, shooting and drainage.

All these pictures bar the adult crane (captive at Slimbridge) were taken near Steart alongside the River Parrett Trail on 3rd March, 2010.  Unfortunately it was a long way off...