The Lincolnshire Bird Club

the autumn status of the Cuckoo in Lincs seems to be taking a tumble along the lines of spring and summer records -- I have seen two juveniles this autumn a grey morph bird at Goxhill on July 16th and a rufous coloured bird at Alkborough this morning; the 2011 report only noted 6 autumn juveniles in the county so could we keep a look out and record any juveniles seen from now until they all depart; if everyone puts a record on this thread it may provide a useful insight into just how bad the status of this iconic species is in the county in 2013 --records of adults will be a lot fewer from now on but please record those as well with any useful additional details such as direction moving or what they are feeding on or even if still being fed

The highest count of adult Cuckoos for the year at Donna Nook was of 7 birds on 3rd July, thereafter there were just 1-2 present daily until 11th. A rufous juvenile appeared by the flashes on 20th, then there was another rufous juvenile at Pye's Hall on 23rd. A greyer juvenile was by the Coastguard cottages on 26th and a rufous juvenile frequented low bushes at Quad 3 on 27th-28th July. Two adults on 4th July and one on 11th were seen passing to the south along the dunes. The juveniles were apparently independent of their foster parents.

Dean Nicholson had a juvenile flying south at Torksey on 1st August.

Brian

A rufous juvenile Cuckoo was seen by P. Cox at midday on 3rd perched on a roadside bush near the King's Head public house in Theddlethorpe All Saints.

already more than were reported in the whole of autumn 2011 -- good stuff

My peak count of 5 adults on 30 06 at Saltfleetby Theddlethorpe nnr,
1 juvenile Theddlethorpe dunes 19 07, was the only juv iv,e seen.
regards John

A grey juvenile Cuckoo was present on fence posts and dead elders at the south end of Donna Nook this morning.

The same young Cuckoo was present on adjacent saltmarsh at around midday today. It made repeated short flights along the ground and appeared to be feeding, but owing to distances and the length of vegetation, I was unable to determine any food items.

My first Painted Lady of the year was in the garden this afternoon.

Dean Nicholson had a juv cuckoo at Trent Port, Marton on 11 August. Locally bred or using Trent valley on migration south (probably both)?

Brian

A grey juvenile was present on the sea bank at the south end of Donna Nook this afternoon.

A rufous juvenile flew low over the fields at Donna Nook at 0915 this morning. It was heading SSW towards North Somercotes Warren.

What was almost certainly the same individual as 16th, was the grey juvenile seen on the same section of sea bank at Donna Nook this evening.

This same bird was flushed from the bank again this morning.

The 'Booted Eagle' man had one two days ago but didn't realize it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/83312580@N06/9557260634/

_________________
Dr Alexander C. Lees
Lecturer in tropical ecology
Manchester Metropolitan University

Lab Associate
Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
Cornell University

http://www.freewebs.com/alexlees/index.htm
@Alexander_Lees

A real raptor expert. Male Sparv sort of puts the gos claims into focus