We were in Wiesbaden today, minding our own business when we were interrupted by trumpeting noises which seemed to come from a bit of a distance.

The cranes were on their way south and we were directly in their flight path.

All of them trumpeting as if to warn anybody to get out of their way.

In reality they communicate amongst themselves, particularly among families: the parents lead their youngins who make the trip for the first time.

They can fly up to 2000 km non-stop. They fly from northern and north-eastern Europe to southern Europe and Africa where they spend their winters.

They came in several waves, some groups in classical v-formation, some in a broader pattern.

This reminds me of a time when in France, we were at an outdoor market and saw a sight like this. But we weren’t sure what they were. So we asked the stallholder. She beamed confidently at us. ‘Birds’, she said …
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well, she was right. — To be honest I heard them rather than saw them. So I just held my camera in the direction of the noise and hoped that the autofocus would do the rest.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wonderful! I love the sound of sandhill cranes, from when I lived in Colorado!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Isn’t it funny what we like when we combine it with fond memories? Many people find the call of peacocks loud, annoying and even scary. To me, they mean home, childhood, loving (we weren’t rich people who had peacocks as pets, we lived next to a park where peacocks were housed – guests found their call in the night truely harrowing).
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a sight (and sound!)
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was an event, definitely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fascinating that you were there at the right moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have seen this once before but I had no idea that some flocks flew over Wiesbaden at all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nor did I.
LikeLiked by 1 person