Cherry

Profile Picture and Leg Ring Combination Code

• Red
• White
• Yellow

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:

June 2013: Cherry is the oldest of the 2013 birds and is developing into a tall, graceful crane.  She is closely attached to the costumed parents, but is also happy to socialise with the other birds when 'mum and dad' aren’t around. Cherry is the sister of Cotton - also a female bird.  She has been fitted with a state-of-the-art Ecotone leg-mounted GPS tag. January 2014: Cherry was released in mid September and quickly integrated with the older birds, spending the autumn foraging with the flock on West Sedgemoor, along the Stoke St. Gregory ridge, and the winter on splashy pasture land on Stanmoor near the village of Stoke St. Gregory. The deep and prolonged flooding that affected the Levels and Moors through December and January does not seem to have had much of an effect on the new cohorts' welfare or integration. January 2015: Cherry remained in Somerset throughout 2014.  Towards the end of the 2014 year, she was seen less frequently, however, and with the group largely fragmented at the close of the year we are currently awaiting a re-sighting. July 2015:  Cherry was re-sighted in the Spring, and apart from a short trip to Slimbridge in April 2015 along with some of her 2013 cohort, she remained part of the Somerset flock through the spring, feeding on Northmoor (Aller), Northmoor near East Lyng and West Sedgemoor.  February 2016: Cherry spent all the autumn and winter of 2015/16 on the Somerset Levels and Moors spending time in the main flock largely on Wetmoor, Aller moor, and West Sedgemoor.  She is not yet obviously paired with any particular bird - but this could all change over the next few weeks.... July 16: Remained on in Somerset and set up territory on Walton Moor in North Somerset with Shadow and performing mating rituals but there is no evidence of nest preparation this season.  Nov 17:  Cherry remained  in Somerset  in the Walton Moor area until early May.  Tracking records showed Cleg in the same area.  On 8th May they were discovered at Greylake already incubating.  The nest was abandoned soon after.  It is possible she stayed with Cleg who is known to have remained at Greylake through the summer. Both birds seen with the flock in the Autumn.    Sept 18:     Remained in Somerset and observed with Cleg on Walton moor in February and again in late March and with the flock on Aller moor at the end of March.  Seen together on Walton moor in April and May but no sign of nesting.   Both were tracked to Greylake during May and Incubation on their first nest started around 1st June with hatching around 1st July.  Subsequently observed without chicks so assumed lost – cause unknown.   Observed on Aller moor on 9th August with flock.            Sept2019:   26th January Cherry was observed on Whitmoor, Somerset, with Cleg and the main flock and again on 16th February.  Observed on Walton moor and at RSBP Greylake with Cleg during March.  In April they were observed regularly on Walton moor displaying and apparently feeding in the Somerton Door area.  Observed mating on Walton moor 13th April and roosting at RSPB Greylake  on 22nd (using Ecotone record for Cleg).  Incubation of their first nest started 1st May.  Nest failed 22-23 May.   A visit to the nest found 2 predated eggs – presumably predated by avian predator as the nest was within the fox-proof fence.   Cherry was observed with the flock on Aller moor at the end of August.   Sept 2020: Cherry was observed on 27th March mating with Soar on Walton moor, Somerset, however, no further breeding activity was observed.  Cherry has been observed with Soar regularly among the wintering flock on West Sedgemoorduring the Autumn.    Sept 2021:  Cherry and Soar were on West Sedgemoor, Somerset and Whitmoor, Somerset Levels and Moors from January to March.  Observed nest building at RSPB Greylake, Somerset c20th March.  Confirmed incubation c 19th April and still sitting 7th May. Possible hatch date 25th May.  Observed to have 1 chick during June and July.  Chick successfully ringed on 16th July and fledged soon after. Family observed together with flock on West Sedgemoor in September.   Autumn 2022:  :  Cherry and Soar were on West Sedgemoor and Whitmoor, Somerset Levels and Moors from January to March.  Incubation was confirmed at RSPB Greylake, Somerset on 15th April. Two chicks were hatched around 16th May and reared to fledge.  The family have been seen together during September and October at Greylake and on West Sedgemoor.                                 

Crane Champions

Photos of Cherry

← Return to the 'Meet the Cranes' page to view more cranes profiles.