2-3 weeks ago I mentioned that we had heard (at night) just a few cranes flying back north. Last week as the snow thawed we witnessed a dramatic site of a few thousand of them flying north in long chevrons. The noise and ability to follow individual birds popping in and out of the V flight formation was quite something.
Problem was we were at the side of Limoges airport and the cranes were following the white line along the run way !! The half hour fly past ended just minutes before our friends arrived 5 mins late but after completing a small delaying circle.
Evidence on Youtube.
"Grue over Limoges airport".