French cranes and sea eagle, first morning

After yesterday, Thursday 28 February 2013 was our first full day at Lac du Der in France.

Today, we hoped to see many cranes. And maybe sea eagles.

This video is about 23,600 cranes staying at night at Lac du Der, end of February 2008..

From Giffaumont-Champaubert village, we walked before sunrise. Still dark; a blackbird already singing.

Under a coniferous tree, a pellet; left over from a long-eared owl‘s meal.

We climbed the dike preventing the lake from flooding. In the water, teal. Wigeons; mallards. Two great crested grebes.

Many flocks of cranes leaving the lake, flying to fields not far away for feeding. Or, already on their long journey to Scandinavia?

A sparrowhawk flying.

Then, a much larger bird of prey: a juvenile white-tailed eagle! A carrion crow tries to drive it away.

This is a video about two adult and one juvenile sea eagles at Lac du Der in January 2010.

This winter, there are five white-tailed eagles around the lake.

Ten grey lag geese flying.

A male goosander flies over the lake.

Back in the village, a great spotted woodpecker. And green woodpecker sound.

A blue tit.

A great egret flying.

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