Cuckoo observations on Dartmoor.

[Chas]

For the last week I have bee watching the cuckoos on Dartmoor. I have a chair hide which has been invaluable. My first encounter was last Thursday when I watched a female going about her nest finding antics. I watched her as she perched on the heathers and rocks low down and in the lee of a hill however, as it was late evening the low bright sun lit her up and she was very clearly visible for 10 minutes or so. I got a few rubbish photos! The following Tuesday I went back to the exact spot, I know that cuckoos are territorial and hoped to see her again. Unfortunately I didn't but from my chair hide I saw and listened to a male singing from a young pine tree isolated on the hill and about 40 yards away. Again more rubbish photos! This was more than likely the male of this partnership. As I sat there (for two hours) I heard at least 4 different pairs, they can be told apart by the pitch of the call and with a bit of practice I could decipher individual birds. However the most fascinating noise was made by a bird who settled behind me just 20 feet but in just about the only place that I couldn't see from the hide. As he flew off, apart from the usual "cuck-oo" call he uttered a whiring/whooshing sound which was really odd and almost frightening as it was so unusual. So last night (Wednesday) I went back and this time placed my hide up the valley and near to the tree that I had seen the male calling from and started my wait. It was nearly 7 o'clock, they lay in the evening and this is the time when they are most active. After only a few minutes a bird flew over me again, very close and I distinctly heard it "wooshing" again, a really odd and quite loud call. He perched quite a distance away and called constantly with the other males answering from all points of the compass or so it seemed. He then flew to my left and I watched him from the side flap of the hide. I had taken my eye of the ball because a female was now right in front of me on the tree that I had predicted one to land. I was mesmerised at first, that close to a beautiful cuckoo, she swung on the tree which could only just support her. It was one of the less seen "rufous" form females which made it an even better sighting. I managed, all fingers and thumbs to get just three photos before she flew away down the valley making that "whooshing" call as she went! I am thrilled to say that this was one of the best wildlife encounters that I have ever had, made better because just a bit of study had led me to make the right choices and enabled me to get really close to a bird which was worth the effort. I plan a return, I need photos of a male which I am confident will happen. I am also pretty sure that I will be able to find youngsters as they progress, watch this space as they.

[snowdrop]

I was surprised to hear so many reports on hearing cuckoos on Springwatch. I was a little'un last the time I heard its call, which I put down to loss of habitat, so I'm very pleased to hear its still going strong.

As for you chas, I'm green with envy and I'll certainly be following your welcome posts, though I'm glad you are the patient chap sitting in the hide and not me. LoL. I hope you have plenty of cool drinks on hand in this weather.

[Chas]

It's no chore to sit quietly in a hide listening to the goings on all around me. Cuckoos everywhere, Whinchats singing nearby and Meadow Pipits s flitting around and always the expectation of something special.

[snowdrop]

Cuckoos everywhere ................

Yes I can imagine the time flying past when you're smack bang in the middle of nature......

Still, I can't grumble, various garden birds are slowly finding their way back into my own garden and what doesn't I can watch on the web.

[Chas]

I must say it was/is really good to know that at least this little patch of Dartmoor has so many Cuckoos. I would imagine that this is replicated throughout the whole moor. Therefore even though they appear to be in decline in other parts of the country, Dartmoor is a stronghold for the species.
I would say that in the evening their calls are pretty much constant and from all directions. It is also interesting to note that sat in the hide it is quite noticeable that it goes silent when walkers and bird watchers are in the area. Also very noticeable how inappropriately dressed people, wearing bright and light clothing makes them stand out from hundreds and hundreds of yards away. Its quite ironic because I see these people in bright white shirts peering through their binos at birds in the distance and if they had only worn more sombre clothing and acted with a bit more decorum then they would see so much more.

[RoyW]

Nice shot Chas, and the best of luck with getting more (and even better) shots!

I hope that this doesn't detract from your sighting at all, but your photo doesn't show one of the rufous, or 'hepatic' form females though. When you first see one of these you will probably be amazed - they are stunning birds.

See;
may 26th photos

Roy.

[Chas]

No it dosn't detract at all but are you certain, it looks pretty brown to me?

[Ollie]

What a great post Chas and cracking photo as well. I look forward to seeing and reading more

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Chas

No it dosn't detract at all but are you certain, it looks pretty brown to me?

Yes, although the bird in your photo does have quite a lot of rufous-buff colouring on the neck, and some buff tones in the upperparts, it is a 'grey from' female. These can be variable in the amount of rufous/brown tones they show (as well as in the amount of barring on the throat), but are never the bright rufous colour with obvious black barring that distinquishes the rarer 'hepatic phase' females. Did you have a look at the bird shown in the link on my previous post?

Males are less variable, with plain grey upperparts, and grey throat + upper breast.

Roy.

[Chas]

Wow, I see what you mean. I have just been out for the evening hence not looking at your link. My bird was impressive enough but that is something special I agree. Doesn't detract from my sighting though, my bird was pretty special to get that close to. I would recommend to anyone that calls themselves a true bird lover to get a close look at a cuckoo because they are so impressive on so many levels. mystical, odd, romantic, iconic and now rare (ish) and their calls are so weird as well! Cant wait for tomorrow evening when I will be out again and trying for that even better shot.