Large black & white birds seen by the WAFI?

[Sue]

Can anyone please help me identify the four very large black & white birds seen flying around by the WAFI this week? Wingspan is about 2 metres, very shaggy appearance with long wing feathers & a crest on their heads. Are they some type of stork I wonder?

[andrew]

Hi Sue

These are grey crowned cranes.
They are free flying occupants of the Palace over the other side of the intersection from Wafi.
Not wild.
They are often perched on top of the lamp posts on the adjacent E66 Al Ain road of a morning.
This palace has quite a few exotic birds and animals residing there.

[Sue]

Thanks Andrew, that is great information. I knew that I couldn't find them in my Birds of the Middle East guide, so I was more than a little puzzled. Can you also help me with another mystery bird seen last weekend in Springs? Similar size & shape to an Indian Roller, which is a regular visitor to Springs, but seen from behind it was a very green colour. I didn't get that close but it appeared to be predominantly green with brown parts. In flight it was dipping up & down rather than flying in a straight line. I can't find many green birds in my guide, apart from parakeets. Any chance this was a purple roller?

[MarkS]

Hi Sue,

I think we may need a few more clues to get this one. For instance, where were the brown parts? How was this bird different from an Indian Roller? Were there any markings in the wings in flight? Wings pointed or rounded?

Could it have been one of these: http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/6507068_CQULT#!i=647895541&k=SrrXG? It would be unusual for them to over-winter, but they're fairly common during migration. Young birds look greenish, rather than light blue.