[Himalaya]

I have never seen a Cuckoo before but I have heard quite a few and in different countries. Its a bird I would love to see this year. Time is running out as they will soon leave.

I know where there are a few in the North West of England but which areas are a gauranteed show? How long do adult Cuckoos linger for before leaving? When will they last call until? Do they move around or stick to the same area ie if it has no luck in say one area would it move a few miles or even much further?

When do female lay eggs until? Considering some of the species they target are multi brooded do they stick around longer than males? I know cuckoo chicks have been seen in august and maybe September, would that mean the female at least would be present until August?

Sorry for all the questions but they are worth it!

[kennethwfd]

try the following http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/bird...koo/index.aspx

[Tortoise]

The old country rhyme says "In July away she do fly". I have very few July records in the past ten years and to my knowledge have never recorded a local August bird. I have heard it suggested that most depart by the end of June.

[Himalaya]

I thought it was June too. I did look at the rspb website as suggested by kennethwd and got some of the answers. Do all adults leave by June? If a fledgling is being fed by a foster parent in 3rd week of August outside the nest what is the latest it could have been laid?

If I were to hear a Cuckoo what is the best way to make sure they come into view?

[joannec]

Originally Posted by Himalaya

If I were to hear a Cuckoo what is the best way to make sure they come into view?

They often call just before they fly. My advice would be, as soon as you hear one, be very alert scanning in the direction you hear it.

[delia todd]

The first two cuckoos I saw were calling in flight. They were not very high, about 20 feet above the ground, rather than high in the sky.

They're fond of telegraph wires, rather than high power lines, and the lower branches of trees and also fences, where they perch horizontally.

[davercox]

Originally Posted by Himalaya

If a fledgling is being fed by a foster parent in 3rd week of August outside the nest what is the latest it could have been laid?

According to James Fisher, the incubation period is 12.5 days and the young bird is fed in the nest for 3 weeks. I do not know how long juveniles continue to be fed after leaving the nest; but if it is, say, one more week then your answer is "at the beginning of July". <<edit and according to the Concise BWP Fisher's figures are a little high but the answer is still "early July" end edit>>
I agree with other contributors that adults are uncommon after June.

[peter hill]

There were at lest 3 cuckoos in the goyt valley a fortnight ago not sure if they are still there they can be tricky to see ,just try to get as close as you can to there call then scan the tops of trees in the area were the sound is coming from but scan a wide area as their call does travel a long way ,with all the rain we have had the last couple of days who knows ?

[Mr Happy]

http://www.bto.org/science/migration...have-we-learnt

Dont forget the wealth of info on the BTO website for the 5 satelite tracked cuckoos last year. First one started migration on 5th June

[Pete Mella]

Still some round me in Sheffield at the moment, but as others say time's running out. If you don't see one in the next few weeks there's also the chance of picking up juvs on the east coast on their way out during migration.

[MJB]

Originally Posted by Himalaya

If I were to hear a Cuckoo what is the best way to make sure they come into view?

Over the last ten days, I've birded with friends in easternmost Austria and westernmost Hungary; we've seen and heard hundreds of cuckoos! From what we've observed, the male cuckoos spend part of their time calling from exposed chosen perches, and the rest of their time flying very strongly to the next perch. It would seem you are more likely to succeed in seeing them if you head in the direction of the calling. Do bear in mind that the female cuckoo's call is quite different, yet we didn't actually see any male calling attract a female, or female calling attract a male! However, it must happen some of the time, but I would speculate that by this time of year, the females probably can be quite fussy about to which male they respond...

In this area, hepatic (brown) females seem commoner than elsewhere. I don't have any first-hand knowledge of host species, but the abundance of Great Reed Warbler possibly indicates that it is a target for cuckoos that haunt reedbeds.

The Common Cuckoo is one of the species that showed that the migration of juveniles could not have been taught by its parents, who depart for the wintering grounds long before juveniles undertake this marathon journey. Because the juveniles do not necessarily winter where the host foster-parents do, then the case for endogenous control of migration began to form.
MJB

[Bird_Bill]

Originally Posted by MJB

Over the last ten days, I've birded with friends in easternmost Austria and westernmost Hungary; we've seen and heard hundreds of cuckoos! From what we've observed, the male cuckoos spend part of their time calling from exposed chosen perches, and the rest of their time flying very strongly to the next perch. It would seem you are more likely to succeed in seeing them if you head in the direction of the calling. Do bear in mind that the female cuckoo's call is quite different, yet we didn't actually see any male calling attract a female, or female calling attract a male! However, it must happen some of the time, but I would speculate that by this time of year, the females probably can be quite fussy about to which male they respond...

In this area, hepatic (brown) females seem commoner than elsewhere. I don't have any first-hand knowledge of host species, but the abundance of Great Reed Warbler possibly indicates that it is a target for cuckoos that haunt reedbeds.

The Common Cuckoo is one of the species that showed that the migration of juveniles could not have been taught by its parents, who depart for the wintering grounds long before juveniles undertake this marathon journey. Because the juveniles do not necessarily winter where the host foster-parents do, then the case for endogenous control of migration began to form.
MJB

Chanced across this a month ago with two of our yellow-billed cuckoos here.
Female was quite vocal, and much different sounding than male, just as descibed above. In addition, female used visual stimulus, flashing bottom of tail to respond to male. All cuckoos are insectavores, favor large, hairy, noxious caterpillars most everything else wont eat. In our case here, colonies of various tent caterpillars provide a feeding frenzy for both yellow and black bills. Find a tree with tent caterpillars and cuckoos in the area, its only a matter of time until viewing opportunity presents itself. Female here rejected male after accepting caterpillar BTW.

[arjacee]

Hi. Saw my first ever Cuckoo yesterday. Very exciting. It was In Okinawa where they are pretty rare passage migrants. Could anyone help me with the I.D ....as I'm not sure if it's a Little or Common. Sorry for changing the topic slightly and the quality of pic ( as had wb on fluorescent light..dohh!)

[peter hill]

Had a couple of hours in the valley today and neither heard or saw any cuckoos mybe its to late ?

[simmojunior]

Originally Posted by peter hill

Had a couple of hours in the valley today and neither heard or saw any cuckoos mybe its to late ?

I heard several last week in the Western Highlands including 4 at one point. As to a place, where you a virtually guaranteed to see them, I have never not seen them in Lakenheath in late June on 4 visits.

[Jeanie]

Saw one on Friday at Frodsham marshes. It was by tank 6. We were looking for the RN duck which we got. The cuckoo started calling from a short way behind us, I walked along the track and there he was on one of the shrub like bushes. Only my second ever in the UK.

[Brian2]

Been a good year for Cuckoo from my experience, I've seen them almost every weekend since they came in from Pembrokeshire through, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent etc..The adults will have there work done by now and be looking to leave very soon.

Lakenheath in Suffolk is a great spot for them.

[Sparrowhawk-]

I haven't heard or seen them this year. I live in the worcestershire area and always at least hear them, I even got lucky enough to see a couple last year.
I still remember the haunting statistics about Cuckoo population declines since the 1980's that came out a couple of years ago.

[Brian2]

They've just tagged a few more after last years success. Like I said it seems to be a good year I had good views whislt in Scotland too. I do feel lucky every time they show up. I had three males chasing a female around at Lakenheath and the bubbling calls were amazing to hear along side the usual Cuckoo call.
One lingered around the picnic area at Lea Valley for a week too which gave good close views.

[IanF]

Originally Posted by Himalaya

I have never seen a Cuckoo before but I have heard quite a few and in different countries. Its a bird I would love to see this year. Time is running out as they will soon leave.

I know where there are a few in the North West of England but which areas are a gauranteed show? How long do adult Cuckoos linger for before leaving? When will they last call until? Do they move around or stick to the same area ie if it has no luck in say one area would it move a few miles or even much further?

When do female lay eggs until? Considering some of the species they target are multi brooded do they stick around longer than males? I know cuckoo chicks have been seen in august and maybe September, would that mean the female at least would be present until August?

Sorry for all the questions but they are worth it!

If you want to see one locally there's one at Seaton Common at the bottom of Zinc Works Road. It's been there daily for the last 4-5 days following the Meadow Pipits around checking out nests.

It's a regular spot for them. They turn up every year. Usually mid-May the adults arrive, though this year it was the start of June, so like several other species they're about two weeks behind.

Normally it's mid-July the juveniles appear here and usually they hang around until at least mid-August. Sometimes an adult lingers as well. Last year an adult and a juvenile were present for several days.

Some years are better than others though. The last 2-3 years haven't been very good with just the odd 2-3. This is only the second I've come across around the estuary this year.

[Mr Happy]

british tagged Cuckoo Chris already in Belgium...

http://www.bto.org/science/migration...tracking/chris

[Himalaya]

Thanks for all the advice. Time is running out and I doubt I will see Cuckoo this year now unless there is a chance with juveniles. There are not that many Cuckoos reported in Lancashire I feel. I have been so busy renovating a house that we will move into so my time has been limited. I have not even heard a Cuckoo yet even though I went to a hot spot last week when the sun was out.

I should be much freer from mid July onwards so i have to wait for juveniles. Has it been a good year for Cuckoos?