First Cuckoo !!!!

[Dan Salter]

Ok so i was up and getting ready to go to college at about 8am...opened bedroom windows to hear the sounds of the countryside while i was brushing my teeth...all the usual suspects were singing, chaffinch, wren, robin, great tit, cuckoo.....???? CUCKOO?!!!....i spat toothpaste all over my bathroom mirror !

I hung dangerously out the window and discounted wood pigen, collared dove, any other doves etc.....im 98.8% sure it was my first cuckoo of the year! seems way too early...i need to check my record for last year but maybe the grim weather makes it feel wrong...i was probably gardening in a t- shirt this time last year ?

I have entered my obs on birdtrack...will be listening out for it again tomorrow ( i live in the middle of the countryside)

Dan

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

Ok so i was up and getting ready to go to college at about 8am...opened bedroom windows to hear the sounds of the countryside while i was brushing my teeth...all the usual suspects were singing, chaffinch, wren, robin, great tit, cuckoo.....???? CUCKOO?!!!....i spat toothpaste all over my bathroom mirror !

I hung dangerously out the window and discounted wood pigen, collared dove, any other doves etc.....im 98.8% sure it was my first cuckoo of the year! seems way too early...i need to check my record for last year but maybe the grim weather makes it feel wrong...i was probably gardening in a t- shirt this time last year ?

I have entered my obs on birdtrack...will be listening out for it again tomorrow ( i live in the middle of the countryside)

Dan

I believe it is traditional to write to the Times! It will certainly be good to hear it again.

[galanthus]

Great stuff !! First one of the year is always really special.

I've been sat by my desk in work with ear radar scanning constantly for the first cuckoo......... only a matter of time then

[Dan Salter]

It just seems crazily early...i just checked and my first in 2007 was 18th April!

but like i say im 98% sure...i shall keep an ear out every day now.

[Bwrack]

Well done !! traditionally the cuckoo would be heard mid april...there used to be a great
deal made of this years ago ..letters in the paper etc.. and some people challenging the hearings

[John]

The first one reported last year was on 16/03/07 at East Malling, Kent. The year before was on 5th April and the the year before that was on 31st march, so you are more than likely correct Dan.

John

[Wild-Woman]

With the way the weather is here in Kent, I should think any Cuckoo in it's right mind would turn around and go back!

What a horrible welcome for the first of the year!

[aeshna5]

It does seem early, but certainly possible!

[naturelover]

i must say i havnt heard a cuckoo for a few years now,only cuckoo i hear every day is my bird clock,different bird on the hour and its british.

[tufftie]

I've herd them in late march / early April on West Cornwall before now - so?!! Does seem early though ...and doesn't feel like summer's arrived!!! Love the sound they make