Cuckoos

[Dave2002]

A few years ago I heard a cuckoo in Surrey - and just managed to catch a recording of that. I think it was a real bird, as it clearly moved around - and definitely sounded authentic.

Today went on a fairly long trip in Scotland and there was definitely the sound of cuckoo somewhere on the road between Ardross and Ardgay - audible at the lookout viewpoint overlooking the Dornoch Firth. I didn't know that cuckoos would go that far north. Again it sounded like a real bird, unless some people are deliberately using electronics to trick us all.

[Historian]

May be an example of habitat movement related to climate change? However, there are ornithologists here who will be able to give a more informed opinion. It certainly seems a long time since I heard one so glad that you were able to.

[oddoneout]

A few years ago I heard a cuckoo in Surrey - and just managed to catch a recording of that. I think it was a real bird, as it clearly moved around - and definitely sounded authentic.

Today went on a fairly long trip in Scotland and there was definitely the sound of cuckoo somewhere on the road between Ardross and Ardgay - audible at the lookout viewpoint overlooking the Dornoch Firth. I didn't know that cuckoos would go that far north. Again it sounded like a real bird, unless some people are deliberately using electronics to trick us all.

They certainly do get up to Scotland. Family on the West coast at similar latitude to Dornoch always hear cuckoos and indeed telephone calls on occasion have had their calls in the background, and pictures have been sent of two in the back garden. Meanwhile the cuckoos here have declined from common every year (often heard on the allotments) to none the past few years.
They take different routes back to Africa and I think I read that this has a bearing on the success of their migration and hence general survival.

[oddoneout]

Just come across this

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/04/country-diary-a-cuckoo-calls-me-into-a-cove-of-delights

[Dave2002]

They certainly do get up to Scotland. Family on the West coast at similar latitude to Dornoch always hear cuckoos and indeed telephone calls on occasion have had their calls in the background, and pictures have been sent of two in the back garden. Meanwhile the cuckoos here have declined from common every year (often heard on the allotments) to none the past few years.
They take different routes back to Africa and I think I read that this has a bearing on the success of their migration and hence general survival.

Do you know how long they stay in the UK? I might take a recorder out and try to capture the sound during the next few weeks, but if they don't hang around much, then it won't be worth my while. Swifts and swallows seem to have returned. I've seen a few, though mostly I just hear them.

[Dave2002]

Just come across this
https://www.theguardian.com/environm...ve-of-delights

I wonder when that was written - when the writer took the walk mentioned. I think the weather was generally good yesterday though maybe there was rain and mist over to the west.

[oddoneout]

Do you know how long they stay in the UK? I might take a recorder out and try to capture the sound during the next few weeks, but if they don't hang around much, then it won't be worth my while. Swifts and swallows seem to have returned. I've seen a few, though mostly I just hear them.

Well they stay long enough to breed, but their song changes, as various old songs and rhymes say. 'The cuckoo comes in April, sings the month of May, changes its tune in the middle of June, and in July he flies away. '
More here about Scottish cuckoos
https://www.bto.org/about-bto/nation...%20mid%201990s.
https://www.bto.org/our-science/proj...acking-project Look for VictorII