Cuckoo

[Chuckles]

Oh just said he heard the Cuckoo at 6.30 this morning when he was walking round the garden

Anyone else heard it

[jean]

Never heard one Chuckles, or if I have thought it was the pigeons. We don't have lots of trees or birds where I am, apart from seagulls and crows

Heard a dawn chorus when I was at my mums, which was amazing. Started off with all the smallest birds and built up and up - then 5 minutes after all the rest the seagulls joined in and spoilt it all just as it was getting light

[andy]

Heard my first one of the year yesterday as well

[JennyWrenn]

Oh you lucky people - this to me is one of the most evocative sounds of nature - the cuckoo calling - I havent heard one in the UK since a child

When biking in Holland one year they seemed to be everywhere -

What is their habitat - or does it not matter to the cuckoo - I live close to a large wood

[Plocket]

I've heard them quite a lot in France, but never in the UK. Apparently one of our neighbours heard one down the road a few days ago though.

[andy]

I hear several in the large copse about half a mile away but as there's nothing between us and the copse, they sound very loud.

As for their habitat.....i'm told they're pretty fond of old wooden clocks....particularly in Switzerland

One bird that has a very distinctive cry is the woodpecker and we have absolutely loads in our local park...both the green and greater spotted varieties.

[Plocket]

I hear woodpeckers pecking on the nearby trees but I've never seen them and wouldn't know their call at all. I can recognise a peacock call and a pheasant call though!

[andy]

Go onto here and listen to the green woodpecker's call. I actually thought the call on the website was a bit slow compared to real ones. Once you've heard their shrill, you'll start hearning them everywhere.

www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/greenwoodpecker/index.asp

[Plocket]

He's not exactly tunefull is he??? Thanks for that Andy - I'll start listening out for them, over the sound of all the smaller birds around here

[oldmoleskins]

andy said:

Go onto here and listen to the green woodpecker's call. I actually thought the call on the website was a bit slow compared to real ones. Once you've heard their shrill, you'll start hearning them everywhere.

www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/greenwoodpecker/index.asp

I thought it a bit 'screamy' somehow on the tape... round here (and elsewhere, I'm sure) GW's are known as "Yaffles".

Yaffling is less strident... but you're absolutely right - once heard, never forgotten.
OM.

[oldmoleskins]

plocket said:

I've heard them quite a lot in France, but never in the UK. Apparently one of our neighbours heard one down the road a few days ago though.

I don't doubt it P., but they must be round your way - I regularly 'migrate' to NE Scotland in the middle of May, and always hear them up there, so they must be pretty generally spread through the UK by then.

Must be all that clem foliage rustling in Staffs... drowns everything else out...

OM.

[Plocket]

PML! I can still hear the trees whispering in the breeze OM!!! I'll listen out next time I'm enjoying the sunshine - that won't be for a few days then by the sound of the forecast!!!

[paul r82]

I heard my first cuckoo yesterday morning as well.

[MamIDdau]

Did I post on here a while ago that I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker at the back of Mum and Dad's house a few months ago?