This afternoon I went to Northward Hill RSPB a little later in the day than normal ie early afternoon about 2pm.. As I was chatting to Trevor Hatton from the Medway Local Group I heard the unmistakable loud, bubbling trill, not dissimilar to a Little Grebe overhead the office. I immediately went outside and a Cuckoo was clearly on the overhead telephone wires, she was not calling so I made the assumption it was a she. Within a few seconds 'she' was joined by another Cuckoo, who by the way he drooped his wings and cocked his tail I assumed was a male. They were a mere three metres away, but after a few seconds she flew off and of course he followed.
The Cuckoos have been at RSPB Northward Hill for some six or seven weeks now and so are well into their breeding cycle, guessing I imagine the female is laying or has laid a few eggs in host nests by now, but who knows, without a lot more research on the reserve we won't know.
The North Kent Marshes are a very special area and worth preserving at all cost.