I often think there's something wonderful in not being an expert on anything. Take the annual immigration of Cranes, for instance. It makes this completely unexpected event, in our ignorance, so much more of a pleasure and surprise. Such a beautiful intrusion on our lives. We gaze up in wonder at dozens of V-formations of these great birds from Spain and North Africa and the Sahara dessert through the South West of France, on their way to the temperate breeding places in northern and western Europe.
The date - 4th March 2010 - we are attracted by their mystical, distant and bubbly cry. Masses of them flying in their V-formations. It isn't just one or two flocks that fly over - there are thousands of them. Some seemingly, with intent, flying onwards to distant lands. They cross the sky from right to left, going north. The phenomena lasts for the whole afternoon - each thousand of the birds followed by another. Some are intent on crossing over us to prescribed destinations - others hesitant and starting to gather up in less organised groups, soring and cavorting upwards as if suddenly in doubt as to their life's purpose. Thermal columns of air seem to be driving them upwards higher and higher. Then another more disciplined skein comes in much lower, distracting us from the first who have disappeared heaven-wards.
What a joy it is to see such a wealth of natural life, in such abundance, so many large birds doing what they have always done, when we are so often made fearful about our crumbling planet through the constant intrusions of the media. How little I know. How I am full of wonder and relief.