Cuckoo 2024

I heard a few last year but only saw one.

 

They are common here in SW France. The first one I heard this year was at my daughter's near Poitiers on the 23rd March, then I heard one a few days later in my garden in Dordogne. I hear it most days. I love it because it means spring and I hate it because they push other baby birds out of their nests.

 

I took this 5 years ago now, we see and here them in the local Glens where they parasitise the Meadow Pipits, not heard one in our village for a long time, though we do see them come in on migration passing overhead.
Cuckoo by tigerburnie, on Flickr

 

Last heard them here about 30 years ago despite the landscape behind our garden not changing. Just thought I haven't heard the owls lately either, but do they hoot all year?

 

Nice pic @burnie . I can occasionally see them, but too far away to ever have caught them on a camera.

 

Owls(Tawny) tend to hoot more in the Autumn when they establish breeding pairs and territories. Little Owls and Long Eared Owls do hoot or more of a screech from the Little Owls this time of year. Short Eared make a kind of "YUP" call this time of year and Barn Owls also screech and hiss this time of year.

 

I heard a few cuckoos last week, there were about three of them calling to each other, but they were in the distance.

 

First thing I heard when I got out the car last week to do a hill was - a cuckoo.

Over in Arrochar, as is very common, so I was never going to see it - I was further along the road.

 

I have heard cuckoos every year since moving here, mid Cornwall, not far from Bodmin Moor. I heard my first this year, last week end and again on Wednesday when walking the dog.
I once saw one fly overhead, I was staggered at how big they are and also how beautiful their markings are. I know they migrate but do they return to their same breeding area each year?
I love hearing them, to me it is a sign summer is on the way.

 

Just heard a cuckoo!!! Haven’t heard one for several years. It was very close then fainter as it flew over towards the marshes and nature reserve over the rise. We’re right on the southern edge of Norwich, not far from the UEA.

 

I've been hearing a lot of cuckoos over the past few weeks but as the local elections are now over I expect to hear far fewer.

 

Out in the garden this morning and what did we hear for the first time in years...male cuckoo calling. Both of us heard it and then it was silent. At least we know cuckoos are still around somewhere.

 

I've heard lots this year. They've been calling all morning. They're in the woods up the hill.
Yesterday there was one very near, sounded like it was in the trees around the field out the back