Cuckoos

[marshman]

Good to see the first of the remaining tagged cuckoos has crossed the Sahara and is on its way. Something stirring down South then so it won't be long before they return to the marshes.

Bit sad they are becoming something of a rarity these days.

[BuffaloBill]

I'm with you on that MM! I watch them on that site and it would

seem we may have lost a couple whilst they were in Africa again

this year. I love to hear them.

[marshman]

I am actually quite sad that I think my grandchildren are actually unlikely to ever experience the thrill of hearing that harbinger of spring.

[Hylander]

Have you a link to the site please.

 

 

[marshman]

https://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking

[Vaughan]

There are lots of cuckoos in the reed marshes in the Camargue but a bit further inland, where we live, we are waiting for the call of the hoopoe. They are a colourful bird, about the size of a cuckoo and nest on the ground in the vineyards, where they live off insects and grubs.

They have a mating call which is a sort of mixture between a pigeon and a bittern, if you can imagine that!

[Vaughan]

I have just heard the first hoopoe of the season.

I thought you would like to know that.

[Timbo]

31 minutes ago, Vaughan said:

I have just heard the first hoopoe of the season.

I thought you would like to know that.

Quick 'pardner's Vaughan's surrounded by injuns! Saddle the horses, get the wagons in a circle!

[MauriceMynah]

1 hour ago, Vaughan said:

I have just heard the first hoopoe of the season.

I thought you would like to know that.

Do Hoos make a lot of noise when they poe then?

[grendel]

probably Great Northern Divers.

[Poppy]

There were house martins flying over Barton Broad yesterday, The Terns should be back soon - especially with southerlies forecasted over the week end.