What is feeding this cuckoo. (1 Viewer)

[Steve Heath]

Can someone help identify what is feeding this cuckoo please? I would guess reed warbler, but wondered if anyone could glean enough from this very poor picture to pin down the foster parent? I tried to get a good line of sight on the action but the cuckoo obscured the other bird. I was anxious not to disturb the birds. Mixed willow/alder carr on the edge of a shallow lake in north Lincolnshire. Many thanks Steve

 

[Jean FRANCOIS]

Maybe a Phylloscopus ?
Jean

 

[LowellMills]

In that habitat in the UK (and partly from the photo too) it will almost certainly be reed warbler.

 

[Simon Wates]

Fair enough re. Reed Warbler but this bird looks to have a notched tail, which would rule that out. FWIW my impression was a Phylloscopus.

 

[Steve Heath]

Thanks all. The notched tail threw me, but I wondered if this may just be a split in the tail feathers combined with odd the camera angle. The warm buff on the sides suggested reed.

 

[Simon Wates]

Possibly but also the UTCs look too short for Reed to me.

 

[Steve Heath]

Thanks Simon. I'm going with phylloscopus as you suggest. Was thinking of doing a painting of this cuckoo being fed and wanted to keep things as true to life as possible. I have some photos of adult cc and ww which will fit the bill.

 

[Simon Wates]

Thanks Simon. I'm going with phylloscopus as you suggest. Was thinking of doing a painting of this cuckoo being fed and wanted to keep things as true to life as possible. I have some photos of adult cc and ww which will fit the bill.

Wish you well with the painting :t: