The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I have seen and heard more Cuckoos in the dunes at Mablethorpe North end this year than the previous 15 years.
There seem to be at least 5 calling males present for the past few weeks.
Have Cuckoo sightings elsewhere increased this year?

Not here at Donna Nook. This site was always a traditional stronghold for the species with spring counts often in low double figures. The last year or two have seen a few less birds about, but this year is the worst ever with just odd birds seen and very little song heard.

Not a single record on my patch at Swanpool/Boultham mere.
I have had 3 singing males, 1 at Whisby & 2 at Bardney.

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Regards,

Andy.

Male & Female at Bardney, the Male not as vocal as previous years
Male at Fiskerton today.

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http://birdmanbirds.blogspot.com/

Two calling and holding territory along the coastal strip between Humberston and Horseshoe Point.

Regards

Chris

Good year here at WNR/NHP, minimum three advertising males.

Cheers,

Ben

4 males ( at least 3 pairs) on Saltfleetby Theddlethorpe NNR between Mablethorpe north end and Saltfleet
which is fairly normal over recent years, also a good year for warbler numbers especially whitethroat
garden warbler sedge warbler and blackcap so I wonder if west and central Africa have had good rainfall
(The east is suffering a serious drought) allowing good winter feeding conditions.

regards John

I think Whitethroats are the main hosts for Cuckoos here in Mablethorpe dunes, so maybe the increased numbers of Whitethroats here this year explains the increase in Cuckoos.

Heard one yesterday at Five Mile Lane on the Witham

One male heard calling outside Sutton St James at noon today

Heard one on Boston West Golf Course this afternoon. Made up for a very poor round!
Regards,
Patrick.

A male called briefly at 5am earlier today outside Sutton St James.

These sparse records are similar to those of the last few years. Perhaps 15 years ago I would see and hear several individuals most days in the season.

I assume reed warbler nests are the attraction here.

I saw 2 fly over Grainthorp haven yesterday.
Rob.

Fiskerton Scrapes, 26th May

Called in briefly at 5pm today on the way home from Lincoln and heard and then saw my first Cuckoo of the year! As I was walking back from the hide the calling male alighted on the power lines and was then briefly joined by a 'bubbling' female.

On the large scrape were:-

3 Grey Heron
Cormorant
2 Egyptian geese
3 Shelduck
2 shoveler (drakes)
Pr Mallard
Pr Gadwall
Tufted duck (drake)
21 Peewits
2 Coot

One at Far Ings 27 May

richard