Missing Cuckoo

I've not heard one for the past 2 years Doctorbob, it's a sorry state isn't it ?

No I can't remember hearing one for at least a couple of years either.

Never heard one, Doctorbob, and we don't get them this far up north. Hope you find one....it's one of the essential voices of summer, isn't it, in climes warmer than here?

2 years Louise and Lily, that's not looking good. Bscott shame you have never heard one, as you say it is one of the essential voices of summer.

I can`t remember the last time I heard one around here either.....

Hi Bob, good news, I heard the cuckoo again this year and like you, I cant remember a year when I havent.
Its usually around the 3rd week in April, I remember as I usually here him for the first time on my birthday. So sad if their familiar sound is disappearing.

We have not heard one, but the neighbour has, he is our local bird watcher and works at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve.

Oh! great news Dawn, lets hope they willl get back to us next year.

I hope they return to you next year too Bob.

Hi Bob... hoping you hear the cuckoos in 2010 :o)

we heard them in east yorks mid april. then later on the females. so they are doing ok up here. didnt see any woodpeckers until late august though, now have 3 constantly.

The cuckoo comes in April, sings his song in May, in the middle of June he changes his tune, in July he flies away....but only if he turns up in the first place!
I didn't hear one in Dorset this year Doctorbob...everyone was commenting on it's absence.
I'm going to sound like a right old twitcher now but I've found out that there are 3 main 'host species' who cuckoos favour to lay their eggs with...the dunnock, reed warbler & meadow pipit...altho' they do use others too...& these are in decline.
Also the cuckoo loves yummy caterpillars & the hairy offspring of the Garden Tiger moth are poisonous to all birds except the cuckoo...& these are disappearing too.
Thirdly...in Eastern Africa where the birds over-winter there has been unprecedented drought due to climate change & that too has affected their survival.
Are you impressed by my cuckoo knowledge??!!!!
Sorry I'll shut up now!!! :o)

Great Seaburngirl, perhaps you could direct some down here for next year, 2 years ago near here, the woodpeckers home, (two large decaying Alders) blew down in a storm, but this year they are back in the top of a decaying cedar and the familiar pecking is music to the ears.
Great knowledge Fluff, good to hear from Dorset, my home county. Our rhyme goes, In April, I open my bill, In May, I sing night and day, In June I change my tune, In July away I fly, August, away I must.

Never heard that one Doc B...thank you!

Fluff, thanks that was most informative.

I think they're all over here! Earlier in the year we heard several at various points of the valley, all seemingly calling and answering each other. Following the African drought that Fluff told us about, I wonder how many we'll hear at once next year?

In my previous garden I hadn't heard one for a few years, but I did hear them on the hills.

Since moving here I hear them in the garden aswell.

That's good, nice to know they are still around.

Last time I heard a cuckoo was in Beckenham, Kent, at least 34 years ago - never heard one at all here in West London, which is sad. Sound of my youth, it would seem.