First Cuckoo Heard!

Hi Graham,

I got back from a lovely (albeit rather wet!) walk this morning having been surprised and elated to hear my first cuckoo of the year. We didn't hear one at all last year - so I am absolutely thrilled to hear one again this year.  We live in West Wales - near Lampeter in Ceredigion, so it's a fair old way for the cuckoo to travel! I have never ever actually seen a cuckoo - so I am hoping to go back tomorrow armed with my camera - to try and snap the elusive little devil!

Lovely photos by the way.

Best wishes for happy bird watching

Diana

Unknown said:

I haven't been able to get out and about this week so have concentrated on the birds outside my windows.

I heard my first Cuckoo of the season this morning - Sawbridgeworth, Herts! I have added it to my calendar as I forgot last year so I don't know if this one is early or late here.

Unfortunately, I have never actually seen one in the UK so, just to make do, here are a couple I saw in Romania and Trinidad (I think the 2nd one is a Striped Cuckoo?):

A pair of Blackbirds have returned to my window feeder - they seem to like the insect pellets I have been putting out. Also, the Starlings have returned after a long absence - they seem to like the fat ball.

Still getting visits from most Tits but all the Finches seem to have dissappeared? There are still Gulls (not sure which ones) and Crows drinking from the lake. There are also many Pigeons about but they don't seem to have noticed my feeder!

And, last week, we had a Grey Heron visiting! Until some people chased it off!

On the cat front, the 1st one is still about - worrying the resident 2 Mallards, whilst the 2nd seems to have vanished. Unfortunately, I have seen a 3rd :( accompanied by its owner.

Weather permitting, I hope to visit Rye Meads and WWT Barnes next week!

Anyway, enough of my boring ramblings, best wishes, Graham

WELL DONE GRAHAM C, HEARING A CUCKOO IS LIKE FINDING GOLD.............GRAHAM L.

Hi Graham, lovely photos of your Cuckoos! I thought I heard one a few weeks ago but could never really be sure as it was so far away.  I would have reported it but thought better not in case I was mistaken.   I have never seen one so the next best thing would be to really hear one - lucky you!

Is it really so unusual to here a cuckoo at this time of year? because at a spot where i film a woodpeckers nest in Chopwell Woods i here the same Cuckoo a couple of times everytime I am there

I heard a cuckoo when my partner and I went to west Wales beginning of May, we were on the Brecon Beacons near Llandeilo/Ammanford, (didn't realise how far the Beacons stretched). We also heard one when we were at Saddles Bridge on Dartmoor on Saturday this weekend. It was so lovely to listen to them.

Great pics there Graham!!