Corona Wildlife Diary: Day Fifty-three
This weekend's Back Garden Bird Race will be tomorrow, Sunday 10 May (10-11).
All the information, rules, I.D guides and downloadable phone app is on the Bird Race website here.
You can leave your results in the comments section below this diary, on the Facebook page or in the phone app.
Today is World Migratory Bird Day so I thought I'd dedicate today's diary to one of our most celebrated summer visitors.
Day Fifty-three
I was having a party with some mates last night. Don't worry - it was one of those virtual parties on Zoom. I had been asked to put together a playlist and, as most people at the party were over a decade younger than me, I made an effort to put on some more recent songs (which in my case means post 1995) to show that I'm still down with the kids. The thing is - I really can't stand almost every singer or band I hear these days. They all seem so bloody nice.
Maybe I'm getting old but I often find my thoughts whimsically drifting back to a simpler, angrier, more offensive time when young punks were lining up to shock us. Nowadays, when I feel the need to be outraged, I have to turn to a bird whose scandalous behaviour still embodies the filth and the fury of The Sex Pistols in their prime.
Photo by Bob Eade.
The Cuckoo creates avian anarchy in the UK every summer. If you delight in sitting and watching the honest, hard-working attempts of birds to gather nest materials, build a home and raise a family then the Cuckoo sticks two feathers up to you. Its non-conformist lifestyle has been described as ‘a monstrous outrage on maternal affection’, ‘a blight on creation’.
The male Cuckoo doesn’t hide his contempt for society. Each spring he announces his arrival by shamelessly shouting his name across Sussex. It’s the one bird call in Britain which everyone recognises. Two simple chords (just like all the best punk songs).
Just in case you need reminding. It goes something like this (here)
Female Cuckoos also utter a callous cackle that would make any panto villain proud. It’s almost as if they can’t stop the evil within from bubbling out; ‘Mwah-ha-ha-ha’.
Listen here and you can here the male's 'cuc-koo' and the female's bubbling cackle.
Photo by Bob Eade
The female Cuckoo is cold, calculating and clever. She targets a couple of unsuspecting love-birds, patiently stakes out their nest and then strikes. After snatching one of their eggs in her beak she swivels, fires her own replacement egg into the nest and scarpers. It’s over in ten seconds. The host parents return to the nest and find the same number of same-coloured eggs; they suspect nothing. The Cuckoo's perfect crime can be re-enacted in a further twenty nests.
With baby Cuckoos there’s no nature or nurture argument. They’re simply born bad. Upon hatching the evil infant's first instinct is to eject all other eggs from the nest. Once alone this bully incessantly screams ‘feed me, feed me, female’ at its bewildered surrogate parents, who are so harassed into finding food they don’t have the time to stop and say ’Hey, wait a minute...’. The imposter grows bigger... and bigger...eventually outgrowing the nest, until it resembles a coconut in an egg-cup.
Young Cuckoo in a Reed Warbler's nest. Photo by Derek Middleton.
As you read this adult Cuckoos will already be doing their dirty work across Sussex. Yet despite the trail of chaos and outrage they leave in their wake, our Cuckoos have recently started doing something that has really upset us all - they’ve stopped coming back. Cuckoo numbers are dropping, possibly due to a lack of food in England, in Africa and on their migration routes in-between.
That distant two-chord call is becoming more and more distant each year. Could it be possible this wonderful bird with its songs and bad behaviour may, like punk rock, be consigned to a lost era of our history? Now that really would be an outrage.
After last night's party I poured one final drink and stood out in the cul-de-sac at 1am to listen out for the local Tawny Owl.
I was amazed to hear instead a Cuckoo calling somewhere in the distance - its buoyant call travelling for miles through the still night air. It's my first Cuckoo call of the year and the first I've ever heard at 1am!
(The cul-de-sac at 1am, pretty vacant except for a distant Cuckoo)
It put a smile on my face to know that this bad bird was still out there, up to no good, still partying late into the night and no doubt annoying its neighbours.
I raised my tequila to the diabolical Cuckoo, took a drink and went back indoors. It's way past my bedtime.
Comments
Michael, I heard and saw a cuckoo last weekend at Upper Beeding, may well have posted grainy pic on fb swt natures table… Could be the one you heard… Helen 😊
09 May 2020 10:39:00
I am shocked. It’s like Mean Girls all over again. Maybe the reason we can’t hear so many is because there is an underground bird mutiny against them? Do you think the bird community is trying to out them because of the egg sabotage situation? Also, I’m also a bit confused about migration. Why do some birds fly from Africa and stop in Sussex and others think to carry on a bit further and stop in Milton Keynes? Also, do they fly back to the same place each year? Or maybe some birds are more adventurous and holiday in different places and other types like to go to the same spots? I had better call Lancing to find out! Hope you had a great party!
09 May 2020 12:15:00
Hi Michael. I may have missed something here, but, maybe it is because I live in a different county. The first cuckoo I heard was the second week in April, over in the woodland opposite my house. It is one of the first birds I always hear in early spring.
Or was it the Tequila going to your head?
09 May 2020 18:34:00
Once again on Fairlight Cliffs, looking away from the sea, for an hour, no fancy raptors today [and in fact no Crow or Robin], but 20 species was a little better than of late:
Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Herring Gull, Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Wren, Goldfinch, Blackcap, Swallow, Green Woodpecker, Linnet, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Tree Pipit [a migrant in off the sea, a good spring record ], Blue Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw and Siskin [2 migrants east along the coast]
10 May 2020 10:10:00
10-11am Sunday: 14 species this week, some regulars missing but thrilled to have the Swifts overhead. Robin, swifts, wood & feral pigeons, collared dove, carrion crow, starling, blackbird, magpie, house sparrow, blue tit, goldfinch, gull (Herring/LBB) and only one ring-necked parakeet
10 May 2020 10:13:00
17
swallow
siskin
chaffinch
robin
buzzard
seagull
raven
jay
wood pigeon collared dove
wren
sparrow
bluetit
woodpecker
coal tit
goldfinch
carrion crow
Had heard a distant cuckoo a couple of days ago but not today.
10 May 2020 10:14:00
Bird Race 10th May: Robin, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Magpie, Wood pigeon, Swallow, Gt Spotted Woodpecker, Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Starling, Garden Warbler Total 16 Wren has white tail feathers, very cute!
10 May 2020 10:14:00
Walberton – 23 – best ever tally with first swifts of the year and a flyover cormorant. Thank you so much for organising the bird race. Cast list in order of appearance :
woodpigeon
house sparrow
blackbird
starling
swift
crow
buzzard
goldfinch
magpie
herring gull
robin
dunnock
chaffinch
jackdaw
great tit (heard)
cormorant
greenfinch
collared dove
swallow
mallard
blue tit
wren (heard)
rook
10 May 2020 10:18:00
Hi Michael, Rather less of a suntan today. Scores on the doors in Barcombe: 27 species (21 seen and 6 heard):
Song Thrush (heard)
Blackcap (heard)
Blackbird
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Blue Tit
Robin
Dunnock (heard)
Wren (heard)
Jackdaw
Crow
Herring Gull
House Sparrow
Pheasant (heard)
Starling
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
House Martin (6)
Great Tit
Rook
Cuckoo (heard several times – quite close)
Heron
Pied Wagtail
Swift
Red Kite
Magpie
Coal Tit
Thanks again for organising this and for your amusing and informative daily garden blog. Cheers, Simon
10 May 2020 10:19:00
Chris Brown
Brighton
Hi Michael
An improvement this week – nice to get Swift on the race list
1. Starling
2. Collared Dove
3. Blackbird
4. Robin
5. Dunnock
6. Great Tit
7. Herring Gull
8. Blue Tit
9. Wren
10. Woodpigeon
11. Carrion Crow
12. Coal Tit
13. Goldfinch
14. Jackdaw
15. Feral Pigeon
16. House Sparrow
17. Swift
18. Magpie
19. Long-tailed Tit
10 May 2020 10:20:00
Quite windy in Mannings Heath today. A disappointing 15 species. Several regulars not sen or heard. Today’s count – blue tit, great tit, wood pigeon, carrion crow, magpie, jackdaw, great spotted woodpecker, blackbird, nuthatch, dunnock, robin, chaffinch and heard but not seen – pheasant, blackcap and song thrush. Yesterday I saw a tree creeper in our oak tree but he didn’t turn up today! We have an unknown number of baby blue tits in our nest box.
10 May 2020 10:21:00
Score from Crawley 13 (again)
1. Starling
2. Herring Gull
3. Feral Pigeon
4. Goldfinch
5. House Sparrow
6. Swift
7. Blackbird
8. Jackdaw
9. Magpie
10. Great-tit
11. Wood Pigeon
12. Carrion Crow
13. Blue-tit
Magpie finally showed up, but Buzzard let me down for the first time.
10 May 2020 10:22:00
17 species at Heathfield. Swifts have well and truly arrived with multiple numbers every time I look up. Star of the hour was a circling Lesser Black-backed Gull.
10 May 2020 10:23:00
Lowest total yet. Maybe the noise of the empty rail replacement buses going past has affected numbers. Wren, blackbird, blue tit, Great tit, nuthatch, wood pigeon, feral pigeon, collared dove, magpie, goldfinch, dunnock, Robin. 12.
10 May 2020 10:34:00
Countryside near Crowborough.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Wood Pigeon
Jackdaw
Magpie
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Chaffinch
Robin
Wren
Goldcrest
Carrion Crow
Pheasant
Nuthatch
Gull (fly-over, large, speckled grey/white underneath – Herring Gull?)
Heard:
Mistle Thrush
Stock Dove
Blackcap.
17 species
Thank you, Michael
10 May 2020 10:34:00
Only seven this week from Tarring (Worthing), which is one less than last week – no magpies today:
House Sparrow
Blackbird
Starling
Collared Dove
Feral Pigeon
Woodpigeon
Herring Gull
On a positive note, the new bee hotel that I put up last weekend has its first residents. Thanks for all the fascinating information on bees and the how we can provide them with homes in our gardens.
Is anyone else taking part in Plantlife’s No Mow May? A perfect excuse for sitting back and letting the grass grow!
10 May 2020 10:37:00
Scores from Offington , Worthing.
Woodpigeon
Herring Gull
Dunnock
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Blackbird
Feral Pidgeon
Starling
Rook
Magpie
Great Tit
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Blue Tit
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Robin
Collard Dove
House Sparrow
Black Cap
Swift
Buzzard
Swallow
Green Woodpecker
Total = 23 Best Yet
10 May 2020 10:47:00
One down on last week – 20 species this week, 21 last Sunday – here in Mountfield (TQ743202). The only new member of the cast this week was Black-headed Gull – a single bird flying North. The two ‘resting’, and thus not recorded, this week were Song Thrush and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
The full cast list, in order of appearance, was :-
Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Wren (song only), Dunnock, Starling, Magpie, Blue Tit, Greenfinch (song only), Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Pheasant (heard), Great Tit, Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Robin, Goldfinch, Herring Gull, Blackcap (song only) and Siskin
Of these 20 species, 17 were recorded within the first 15 minutes of the hour
Very many thanks, Michael for organising this event and for your always interesting, amusing and informative blog.
10 May 2020 10:50:00
Swallow,house martin,song thrush,dunnock,raven,starling,house sparrow,wood pidgeon,blackbird,goldfinch,pheasant,chaffinch,rook,jackdaw,robin,collard dove,mallard,kestral great tit, blue tit, moorehen, chiffchaff(calling) ,coot blackcap, swift, little egret, wren,grey partridge, canada goose, greylag, stock dove herring gull blackheaded gull ,blackback gull,red kite csrrion crow poed wagtail grey heron buzzard , greenfinch 38
10 May 2020 10:51:00
From our Steyning garden;
1. Blue Tit
2.Kestrel
3.Wood Pigeon
4.Carrion Crow
5.Magpie
6.Great Tit
7.Dunnock (heard)
8.House Sparrow
9.Jackdaw
10.Herring Gull
11.Rook
12.Greenfinch (heard)
13.Red Kite
14.Swift
15.Chaffinch (heard)
16.Robin
17.House Martin
18.Goldfinch
19.Blackbird
20.Swallow
21.Stock Dove
22.Goldcrest (heard)
23.Pheasant (heard)
24. Wren (heard)
25.Buzzard
A decent tally, but a Hobby flying around calling at 09:53h was 7minutes too early!
10 May 2020 11:01:00
21 today. Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Gold Finch, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Finch, Green Woodpecker, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Robin, Rook, Song Thrush,Starling, Wood Pigeon, Wren. Overcast. Dull without the skylark. Still hoping for the elusive flycatcher to arrive
10 May 2020 11:05:00
Another draw with Heathfield although a pair of un-identified Duck are not included, probably Mallard that flew at heck of a speed away from me.
The Skylarks were very noisy today.
17
Stock Dove, Magpie, Collared Dove, Goldfinch, Starling, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Herring Gull, Swallow, Swift, Robin, Blackbird, Bluetit, Skylark, Chaffinch, House Sparrow.
10 May 2020 11:06:00
Nineteen here again in Rye, with Swift taking the cumulative total over all bird races up to 31 (35 including the all-day “Lockdown Challenge”). B-h and Herring Gulls, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Magpie, Rook, Jackdaw, Starling, Chaffinch, House Sprog.
10 May 2020 11:13:00
Today’s list. Less Than last week
Blue tit, Great Tit, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove,Long tailed Tit, Mallard, Swallow, House Martin,Mallard, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird,
Crows, lots taking wool from alpacas.
Greater spotted Woodpecker, nest in old tree Total = 14
10 May 2020 11:32:00
17 today, some of the regulars were not visible, I am sure they were there, I just could not recognise their song and calls. More studying required. Thanks again Michael for your brilliant blog and the Bird Race. Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Cuckoo, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Magpie, Robin, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, White Throat, Woodpigeon, White Dove.
10 May 2020 11:34:00
A bit quiet today, just 13:
Dunnock, House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Herring Gull, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Robin, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff
10 May 2020 11:37:00
19 in Icklesham today – red kite highlight as never seen one here before! the wind and the Marsh frogs made it tricky to hear the birds though!
house sparrow
song thrusher
wood pigeon
Robin
starling
black headed gull
collared dove
jackdaw
herring gull
goldfinch
swift
blackbird
buzzard
swallow
blue tit
wren
greenfinch
red kite
kestrel
10 May 2020 13:48:00