Excalibird

Profile Picture and Leg Ring Combination Code

• Blue
• 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:  Excalibird loves spending time around the other birds, and is rarely seen in her own when out with the other birds. Excalibird is the sister of Stanley-  a male bird. She has some beautiful white markings on her back which make her really stand out from the rest of the crowd. September 2013: On release she was one of the first to be accepted by the older cohort, choosing to roost and feed with them from just the 3rd day after release! January 2014: Excalibrid spent 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:  Excalibird spent all of 2014 as an integral part of the non-breeding and non-moulting flock on the Levels and Moors and towards the tail end of the year was frequently seen feeding in with a group on Southlake and Aller Moors to the west of Langport. July 2015: The spring of 2015 saw Exaclibird remain part of the non-breeding flock on the moors, spending a lot of time on Northmoor (Aller), Northmoor near East Lyng and West Sedgemoor.  February 2016: Excalibird 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 in Somerset and was seen with Pepe who is too young for a nesting  attempt. There is no evidence of either pairing with another bird or nest preparation this season.    Nov 17:  Remained in Somerset and has been seen with the flock occasionally during this season.  On one occasion she was seen on her own in Hampshire – so she’s been getting around!   Now back with the flock.  Sept 18:      No nesting attempt was recorded this year.  Observed on Aller moor on 9th August with flock.   Sept 2019:  Excalibird was observed at RSPB Otmoor, Oxfordshire with Maple & Wycliffe in late May.  She was also observed at Otmoor and then Duxford (Oxon WT) in late July.  Not seen with another bird and no sign of a nesting attempt.  In late August she was seen at Slimbridge with the flock of other cranes there.   2020:     Observed incubating with Ted at Otmoor (Oxon) on 17th March.  1 chick hatched from this attempt but was predated by a Marsh Harrier after 10 days.  The pair have been observed regularly with the flock on West Sedgemoor during the Autumn.   Sept 2021:   Excalibird and Ted were observed to be at RSPB Otmoor, Oxfordshire in March.  By 25th May they were reported to be rearing 1 chick - hatched 22nd May.  They remained at Otmoor until September when they were observed with the flock on West Sedgemoor.   Autumn 2022:  Excalibird and Ted spent the winter on West Sedgemoor, Somerset Levels and Moors then returned to RSPB Otmoor, Oxfordshire in March and incubation was confirmed on 25th March.  The nest appeared to have been predated at about the time of hatch leaving eggshell and her remains near the nest.  Ted has returned to W Sedgemoor for the Autumn.                                           

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Photos of Excalibird

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