Wycliffe

Profile Picture and Leg Ring Combination Code

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What is this?

Each crane has a unique combination of 3 coloured rings on their right leg. This marking code helps to identify the crane in the wild.

Character profile:

September 2012: At Slimbridge, Wycliffe was one of the most self-assured, confident members of the group and was very much in charge. He always has first choice of roost site, crane parent and food and has been championed by Wycliffe College, Stonehouse (Damon’s old school). He was very attached to the costumed parents, and became quite vocal whenever they appeared, as well as attacking any crane who approaches 'his' parent.  This behaviour became more infrequent following the move to Somerset, but he was still always the first one to approach the costumed carers as they entered the release enclosure, and remains keen to follow them across the moors.  January 2013:  As autumn turned to winter, the cranes began to flock together to look for food, which they found in plentiful supply in the form of maize left in fields from the harvest.  All 48 have been spending most of their time either feeding in the maize stubble or on Stanmoor, completely unperturbed by the surrounding floodwater. January 2014: 2013 was a largely uneventful and quiet year for Wycliffe.  The spring and summer were spent largely on Aller Moor and West Sedgemoor, with the autumn spent feeding on the Stoke St. Gregory Ridge, and Stanmoor, and the winter flood period on pasture land on Stanmoor along with the majority of the other cranes.  July 2015: The spring, summer, and autumn of 2014 were spent on the Somerset Levels and Moors as part of the non-breeding flock, but Wycliffe did appear to be forming a pair bond with Maple-Glory.  In the spring of 2015 this pair turned up at Otmoor RSPB reserve in Oxfordshire where they soon settled down and made a breeding attempt.  Sadly, the eggs were taken by a predator – probably a North American Mink - just about the time they were due to hatch.  The pair remained in Oxfordshire through June.  Both are at the age that they are due to moult, so they may remain at this wetland reserve until they have re-grown their flight feathers. February 2016: Wycliffe and Maple turned up back in Somerset in September.  They remained with the main flock on the Somerset levels and Moors through the winter.  Perhaps they'll try again at Otmoor later in the Spring?  July 16: Returned to last year’s territory in Oxfordshire. Incubation started on 6 th April and eggs hatched on 7 th May. The chicks predated after 17 days probably by a fox. No further know nesting attempts.   July 17:  Returned to last year’s territory in Oxfordshire on 28^th February and incubation was reported starting on 29^th March. They were still incubating at the end of April and hatched around this time.  Only one chick was seen but by the 9^th May there were no chicks visible and predation was assumed.   No further attempts were witnessed.   On 19^th May the pair were joined by another (unringed) crane with its bustle (tail feathers) missing.  The pair went into moult and were seen running from a vehicle in early June and they remained throughout the month with the unringed bird.  They returned to the flock in Somerset during the Autumn.   Sept 18:   Reported to be back in Oxfordshire on 14^th March. Incubation on their first nest started on 29th March and hatch took place on 28th April.  Reported in early June as getting on well. However, by the 19^th of June the chicks were lost – assumed predated. Sept 2019: Wycliffe was observed on Whitmoor, in the Somerset Levels and Moors, with Maple on 26^th January with the flock. Both were seen again in March in Somerset.  On 4^th April the pair was observed nesting at RSPB Otmoor, Oxfordshire where they bred last year. Hatch was due by 24^th April but there was no report of chicks.  Later it was reported that the pair sat for 60 days on addled eggs.  They were observed back in Somerset in late August.      2020:  Wycliffe and Maple were observed incubating on the 10^th March at RSPB Otmoor, Oxfordshire, and hatched one chick which was predated after 5 weeks.  No further breeding attempt was recorded.  Since the summer Wycliffe has not been observed. 2021: No further signs of Wycliffe.

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Photos of Wycliffe

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