Cuckoo's arrive

[Polecat]

Cuckoo's have arrived here within the last 24hrs, along with the first batch of housemartins.

Redstarts also arrived yesterday, a bit late this year. Still waiting for the nightjars.

As I said in ealier posts the swallows arrived here early, on the 1st of April. Many warblers are settled now.

Great as always to hear the cuckoo for the first time in the year

[John]

It's great to get them back but I fear you may have to wait another month for the Nightjars.

I'm off to Norfolk for two weeks from this Saturday. I hope I will get to see my first Cuckoo of the year in that time and have earmarked a few sights that are relatively reliable for them.

I will go to an excellent Nightjar sight on my last night just in case they have come in early but I am not hopeful.

John

[nightshade]

I will check the local oak that is where the cuckoos first appear here,no swifts or swallows yet

[Polecat]

I had been waiting for yesterdays weather front to arrive as i thought there was a good chance the cuckoo's would have been with it.
I have never really timed Nightjars arrival, probably because of their mostly nocturnal nature......except last year when I watched a pair on April 28th, and that was by pure chance !!!
Nightshade, I have noticed how cuckoo's like the same haunts year in- year out. There is one particular perch on a fence post by the side of the road here, which is in a dip......I determined to get a close up photo this year!!....though as with all other birds, by the time I get the lens cap off the blessed thing has flown away!lol

[nightshade]

You are right Polecat,these have been coming to a clump of Oaks about a mile away for about 25 years

[Ollie]

Cockoo heard and seen at Messingham nature reserve north Lincolnshire today 24th April 2006
Ollie

[nicole]

Heard and saw my first Cuckoo of the year at the weekend at manningtree in Essex, always a great sight to see a cuckoo

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Heard my first Cuckoo of the year on Saturday(22nd)

We've had Swallows around for a few weeks now

[Gill Catton]

first cuckoo on Friday the 21st near Brightlingsea, first nigthingale too

[Lou-D]

Not heard any cuckoos here yet but saw my first swallows overhead on Sunday (23rd). However, Mr Smartass-across-the-road reckons they've been here 2 weeks!