Now I'm not sure if my ears are playing tricks on me, but I could have sworn I heard a cuckoo off in the distance this morning. It sounded quite far away and it definitely wasn't the woodies or doves. I heard it yesterday as well but as this is the second time now it's got me wondering.
We do have alot of wetlands with reed beds near to where we live, according to the book I have it's a good place for them to be found so the possibility is there but is it too early yet?
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Hi,
the habitat sounds good but it IS early for cuckoo- I'd expect them about 15 April on the south coast and 20th here in Norfolk.
But ya never know...:)
I guess it's get out early and have a look-see time:)
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
Hi Kezmo,
First heard records average April 17th-23rd for S. England, and May 1st-7th in N. Scotland. Earliest accepted record is February 15th 1945 (Yorkshire).
Hope this helps,
mickycoop
Thanks S and mickycoop for your replies - that settles it then, my hearing IS playing tricks on me LOL!
your ears WON'T have been playing tricks.
It is not uncommon for Cuckoo's to arrive as early as March.
Three reported sightings at different locations and five reported sightings during the first week of April already this year.
Sussex and Kent been the hotspots.
Here's the link to the most recnt sightings.
http://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=071014
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Thanks Buzzard, there's hope yet then (relieved as the eyesight's not doing too well either - oh the indignities of getting older).
I had been looking myself on the internet for reported sightings but the search engine kept hanging so gave up in the end.
Should I report this or do you have to have sight of your cuckoo? Perhaps I'll wait until tomorrow and listen out for it, it's seems to sound off between 6.30 and 7am so we'll see.
if you can confirm that it is a Cuckoo, then yes I would report it as a calling bird but unsighted!
As the Cuckoo is now on the conservation RED list due to it's recent declines then all reported sightings are of benefit to the studies.
The link below gives all the birdfacts for the Cuckoo
http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob7240.htm
I don't know if you are aware of Bird Atlas, run by the BTO and is one way of reporting bird species.
http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/
You need to register, which is very straight forward. You can then enter your sightings via the ROVING records.
Under the How To Take Part section.
Again read through the pages and various links on the Atlas Home Page.
Hi Kezmo
I haven't seen or heard them myself but I checked my local BerksBird website and there were reports by two seperate people of a cuckoo sighting in west Berkshire today. So they are here! Well done on hearing it - they are such charismatic emblems of spring that we hear so rarely these days.
TJ
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Hi Buzzard - Thanks for the links and if I do hear it again I will report it. BTW 26 recorded nests !!!
Hi TJ - I do hope it is the case that I have heard one - I've never seen one so this will be the next best thing.