Slimbridge Crane - 400 Years In The Waiting

Just when you thought your birthday weekend couldn't get any better, lady luck deals you a full house.

We decided to carry on straight down the M4 and pop into Slimbridge on the way back from Leamington Spa. We had absolutely no idea that the Common Cranes that had nested outside the hide there this year had fledged two chicks. These are the first two wild cranes to fledge in Gloucestershire for 400 years. They had quite an audience. We oh so nearly completely missed them as well.

I wanted to go to the Kingfisher hide as there is a nest in the banking there this year. I got some half decent shots of the Kingfisher so I was a happy man! (I haven't had chance to edit them yet)

It was a rather nice way to finish off a wonderful few days!