….after a longer wait than usual, we were treated to the beautiful sound of the first cuckoo singing at Langford on the 10th May. Usually arriving at least a week if not more earlier, we were beginning to wonder where our birds had got to! Cuckoos do well at Langford because we have a good population of one of their most common host species – the reed warbler. Laying their eggs in the rather fragile looking nests of the reed warbler, located deep in the reedbed, the young cuckoo is then left by it's mother to be raised solely by the little warblers – fascinating stuff.
There is currently a bird singing and showing well from the North Trail, often sitting on the perimeter fence line near Cromwell Lock, so keep an eye and ear open for it.
Unfortunately however, cuckoos have undergone a huge decline in recent years, particularly in England. More positive news however comes from Scotland where they are doing better. Two weeks ago I was on holiday on the Isle of Arran and was greeted with the sound of the island swarming with them – brilliant!
So with the addition of cuckoo, we now have our full compliment of summer migrants in and the breeding season is in full swing. There have been some interesting passage migrants too recently, with wood sandpiper, bar and black-tailed godwits and turnstone being the highlights of the waders. All occur at Langford on spring or autumn passage, but not every year, so it's always a real treat to see them. But the real excitement came on Thursday 12th May when Joe, Stuart and Steve were delighted to come across three black terns over Phase 1 whilst out planting reed. Black terns are gorgeous birds, with their striking black and grey plumage and graceful flight - these are only the third record on site in six years.
Cuckoo - finally back on site! John Bridges (rspb-images.com)