Thursday, August 27, 2020

Juv Cuckoo

 Juvenile Cuckoo showed well around mid-day, same area as reported on Grapevine yesterday.

Highlight had to be a young (brown) Merlin that landed on a post whilst I was crouched down behind a wall watching the Cuckoo, sadly no photos, my slightest movement and it was off!




8 comments:

David Sutcliffe said...

That's a belting photo Phil.

John Marsh said...

Nice one Phil.

Bradshaw Rambler said...

Smasher Phil.
John

NTBR said...

Good work Phil.

Phil D said...

Many thanks. Watching the interaction between the Swallows and the Cuckoo, we did wonder if they'd raised it.

After doing a bit of an internet search, it does say its unusual for either Swallows or House Martins to raise Cuckoo chicks. We didn't see it being fed but did see it go into the same derelict building the Swallows were in and out of, cheers, Phil

Dave Brotherton said...

Great Shot Phil

David Sutcliffe said...

Very unusual to see a Cuckoo go in a building - suspect your'e right about it with Swallows Phil. They might manage a Swallow nest but a Hs M might be a bit of a tight squeeze !! Even more unusual would be an adult going to lay an egg in a nest in a building in the first place. Fascinating ....

Phil D said...

'Great Shot Phil'
Thanks Dave

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I suppose we'll never know for certain Dave, would have been good to see them feeding it and get a definitive answer.
The building is fairly open, fenced off, signs up saying its un-safe/stay out and not overly close to the track/footpath, it won't see much human activity, if any. Its also a good distance from the farmhouse.
Saying that, DR went up yesterday and I believe AT went too with no sighting, maybe it was just passing through and its move on......cheers, Phil