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Damon Bridge's blog

and the coldest hour, is just before dawn....

Published on April 10, 2013, by Damon Bridge

...and also the best time to listen out for potential pairs of cranes on their territories!  

Over the last few weeks a number of intrepid volunteers have been joining me in pre-dawn surveys across the levels and moors of Somerset, to listen out for the morning reveille - the courtship bugle of a crane pairs.   They tend to do this once they have established a territory - in a wet, quiet spot with plenty of decent chick rearing habitat near by.

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R.I.P. D2

Published on April 9, 2013, by Damon Bridge

  Green Yellow Blue in September 2012.

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...if you think its cold in the UK...

Published on March 27, 2013, by Damon Bridge

 Cranes in northern Germany March 2013.  Thanks for the photo Jane Muenstermann!

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Phelps and the fishing line

Published on March 26, 2013, by Damon Bridge

 Phelps looking pretty sorry for himself in March 2013 with fishing tackle dangling from beak. 

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'Gettin' Jiggy wit it....'

Published on February 26, 2013, by Damon Bridge

Yep... its Spring - or at least the cranes think so.  Lots of bugling, displaying, dancing, jumping about, throwing stuff around, storming about with chests puffed out and bustles all bustley and splendid looking.  

   Gerald -Ye-Bk-Wh (male) and Flash Gr-Bk-Wh (female) bugling away on Aller Moor. (Thanks to John Crispin for the photo)

Artist Appointed!

Published on February 6, 2013, by Damon Bridge

 Autumn Fieldfares, Melanie Tomlinson

We are delighted to announce that after a rigorous selection process, Somerset Art Works have appointed a  artist -  Melanie Tomlinson - to work with The Great Crane Project on a commission.

Melanie is primarily a metal worker and illustrator

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Fabulous sequence of Wycliffe taking flight...

Published on February 4, 2013, by Damon Bridge

A lovely set of shots by John Crispin showing crane Yellow-White-Blue (Championed and named by Wycliffe College, Stonehouse) taking flight the other day.

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Rain stops play - Crane viewing dates cancelled

Published on January 14, 2013, by Damon Bridge

I regret that we have taken the decision to cancel all of the crane viewing events between January 4th and 30th. 

 Crane feeding point..... and no cranes.....

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Still wet here in Somerset

Published on January 8, 2013, by Damon Bridge

 West Sedgemoor from the railway bridge at Oath Jan 8th 2013 

It's still very wet in Somerset, with the moors that require pumping stations to remove their innundation only now finally starting to show signs of levels falling.   The crane office is in an old farmhouse adjacent to the West Sedgemoor SSSI - which is the wetest it has been in decades.

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The Wanderers' Return

Published on January 3, 2013, by Damon Bridge

 What an unexpected and wonderful Christmas present!

  Chris (second from left) with others looking on!

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