In search of the blue crane, Witsand area.

Saturday’s photo drive lead to the sighting of hundreds of blue cranes at their secret sleeping place.

The blue crane (Grus paradisea), also known as the Stanley crane and the paradise crane, is the national bird of South Africa. The species is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

After sunset literally hundreds of blue cranes came out of nowhere to overnight in the salt pan next to the road to Witsand. We hoped to catch them in better light the next morning, but they left while it was still dark, therefor the grainy images.