heard the first cuckoo

[hedgesparrow]

was getting concerned i had not heard a cuckoo this year and today in a village i would not think i would hear one and heard its song. getting rare now.

swallows seem not many about saw some begining of april not seen hardly any since.

[Sussex Groundie]

Yes must be the week for Cuckoos, heard them in a couple of garden/woods, so used to wood pigeons made a nice change.

[sandy2210]

had t laugh at above post I was standing waiting to start work this morning and commented to "townie" workmate how good to hear the nearby cuckoo

you dont know much about the countryside he says-- thats a pigeon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[armchairarborist]

:001_smile:heard one on tuesday, that was sw scotland.

[bobh]

Been around up here for 2-3 weeks

[Shane]

Heard our first one on Monday at Pulborough Brooks RSPB centre.

[nooie]

Aye, it was here on the 30th April, a week earlier than last year. I saw one sitting on the telephone pole outside the house lastnight.

[Graham]

Have heard them for about three weeks now. Saw a pair yesterday and a few singles. We get a fair few here around The Chase due to the many nesting meadow pipits.

[Stubby]

Heard one to day . First time for a few years now . I think they are in decline for whatever reason ??

[Graham]

Heard one to day . First time for a few years now . I think they are in decline for whatever reason ??

 

Definitely in decline. As a kid many years ago they were a common sound and sight in the countryside. In my childhood egg-collecting days a cuckoo's egg was the holy grail. Eventually got one from an hedgesparrow's nest in the garden. Many of our migrants are losing ground too. Swifts, swallows, martins. I think many of our older houses are being sanitised with plastic which the martins don't like and gaps are lost the swifts used to use.

 

Some people won't even allow the martins to nest because they don't like a bit of bird poo on the wall, drive or car!