Birdwatching in general

[Kerry L]

I have heard a cuckoo for the first time in about 10 years. Has anyone else? Also, as a child, I used to love lying in the grass trying to spot the skylarks way up above me. I haven't heard them in years. The lapwings used to be very common here - again, not one sighted for many years either, so has anyone else got them on their doorstep so to speak?

I had left a hanging basket out because a wren had made a hole in it, but it hadn't been used, the cobwebs sealed the hole. I was going to take it down today, but the cobwebs have been cleared and after spying on it, wrens were popping in and out. It is a bit exposed, so if the weather stays hot like the last couple of days (hooray sunshine) will it get too hot inside, or will it be like a cottage, and be cooler in the dirt?

A builder friend had a wren nesting in his cement mixer!

Just had a time out from gardening, so back to the grindstone, hope you all had a good weekend.

Regards, Kerry

[Emma]

I haven't heard a cuckoo in many years now. Skylarks are common enough on my trips out and about (Scottish Borders) - sometimes I can hear them but not see them; they fly so high up it's hard to see them against a blue sky! Best place to see them, I find, is on a coastal area (slightly inland - over sand dunes or grassland). Lapwings are also common here - they are lovely birds, especially close up, and their courtship displays are good to watch too.

Not sure about your wren in the hanging basket - but that's so lovely to hear about! I hope it's a suitable enough home for them and they raise a good brood. Good luck!

[Shamal]

I've heard a few this year and was nearly decapitated by one as it flew past me, although none of these were local. I tend to to have more joy with Cuckoos on heaths.

They are odd birds, with the adults only being in the country for a very short time. Once they have done their business, they're off back to Africa.

They do seem to be getting a little scarce, informed opinion at places like birdforum suggest they are highly dependant upon the species that they parasite. Some of these small birds are going through a rough patch, so the Cuckoos suffer as well.

[optrex]

I must admit, the cuckoo is a bird I have not heard since I was a kid. A well times thread with the short film on Springwatch yesterday too (dont tell me what heppened I've not seen it yet) ;)

[Kerry L]

Hi all

It seems I'm not alone in wondering where the cuckoos went. I saw one once, when I was 11, in the last year of primary school. All the class rushed to the window to watch a blackbird feeding this monster baby, and I remember thinking that I was glad it was a bigger bird and not a poor little one.

I know there is a rhyme about it, but I can only remember the last bit when it says "it comes to stay in the middle of May, and in June it flies away."

I think there were two here, as the sounds came from different parts of the woods simultaneously, but haven't heard anything since the last posting - perhaps they have gone back.

I saw one lapwing flying over the M4 on Tuesday not far from Marlow, but because the banks were high, I couldn't see where it had come from, or where it was going. (I wasn't driving!)

Shamal - they are reclaiming a local heath here, so perhaps that may have something to do with it, bringing in New Forest ponies and clearing out overgrown trees - mainly birches, and discovered lots of rare plants too.

Emma - I think a trip to Studland is in order for some skylarks!

Optrex - I won't give the game away over the programme!

Good night
Kerry

[Jenny]

Apparently we have a lot of cuckoos on Mull but have only briefly heard one near home (but did see one last year for the first time in like 40 years!!) But we do have skylarks - mainly in south of island.

[Kerry L]

I think the wrens have changed location, because I'm sure they would have roasted in there, or they fledged before I realised they were using the basket, although they were up here a couple of days ago. At the moment they seem to be back down the end of the garden in the ivy, where their first successful brood was raised.:confused:
Regards, Kerry

[Kerry L]

They are still in the hanging basket! The parent announces it's arrival very loudly - perhaps it was too hot for singing, and was sneaking in quietly! But I can't hear anything inside. If it had chosen the middle basket (there are usually 5, but I haven't done them yet to conserve water), it would have been protected by the hops and the roses - and that one was successful a couple of years ago.
Oh well, I will keep 'em peeled!
Regards, Kerry