Diamond

Profile Picture and Leg Ring Combination Code

• Yellow
• White
• Black

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:

January 2015: As a chick Yellow White Black (Diamond) was a very big crane – but was also very gentle with it. She seemed to often be getting beaten up by White Yellow Black. She is the sibling of Yellow Red Black which hatched the same day.  She looked pretty crazy as she grew, retaining her ear tufts for longer than any of the other cranes, and exhibiting a mad 'hair' style.  She had some lovely, distinctive white speckling on her back - the only bird to look like this year but this has now moulted out as she has matured.  She remained part of the main flock through the winter, feeding on Southlake and Aller Moors. July 2015: Diamond has spent the spring and summer mainly feeding on Nortmoor (Aller) and Northmoor near East Lyng, and roosting most of the time on West Sedgemoor.  The whole non-breeding flock appear to be thriving on the Levels and Moors this year. February 2016: Diamond spent a rather unremarkable  autumn and winter of 2015/16 on the Somerset Levels and Moors spending time in a flock that fed on the whole across Wetmoor, Aller moor, and West Sedgemoor. She is likely to remain as part of the non-breeding flock through the coming Spring and Summer.  Nov 17:  Paired with Manfred and seen prospecting territory on West Sedgemoor, Somerset in April.  Their first nest was confirmed in early May and a visit after it was thought the birds had abandoned  revealed 3 eggs in the nest.  Incubation continued in this nest area but possibly on a new nest.  On 12^th June behaviour indicating a hatch took place but it was impossible to see how many chicks.  At the end of June it was confirmed that one chick was present.  This chick was eventually ringed (Red Yellow Green) and radio tagged.  DNA testing showed the chick to be a female and it has been nick-named ‘ManDi’.  The family are now back with the flock for the winter.   Sept 18:  Seen with Manfred with the flock during Jan & Feb and occasionally on territory. Flooding prevented occupation of territory through March.  Incubation started on/around 16th April. Hatch took place from11th May and they were observed with 2 chicks 16th May.  Chicks were lost shortly afterwards – predation assumed.  The pair were not observed to have made another breeding attempt.   Sept 2019: :  Observed with Manfred in Broadway area of West Sedgemoor, Somerset. with a possible start of incubation on 22^nd March.  The nest failed 6^th April – cause unknown.  Incubation of the second nest began on 22^nd April with hatching between 22^nd and 26th May.  Unsure whether there were two chicks but one survived and was seen in flight, during an attempt to catch for ringing – on 27^th July.  The family was observed with the flock in late August.         2020:  The pair were observed on their West Sedgemoor territory on 17th March.  A changeover was witnessed on 22^nd indicating that they were nesting. They may have produced chick/s but ultimately the breeding attempt failed.  No evidence of a second attempt.  The pair have been observed regularly with the flock on West Sedgemoor during the Autumn.   Sept 2021:  Diamond and Manfred were observed feeding together on West  Sedgemoor, Somerset up to 27th March and still feeding on 1st April.  A nest was confirmed on 8th April with incubation starting c 4th April.  On 6th May there was possible hatch activity but by May 7th they appeared to have failed. A second attempt was confirmed on 29th May but the was no evidence of chicks once incubation was over.  Observed on territory and with flock on West Sedgemoor in September.     Autumn 2022:   Diamond and Manfred were observed on West Sedgemoor, Somerset Levels and Moors during the winter and the breeding season and made two breeding attempts.  One lasted only 6 days and the other failed, cause unknown.  No further attempts were made and the pair are seen regularly on their territory and with the flock.

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Photos of Diamond

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