Great Spotted Cuckoo.
15th March 2014
I'm experiencing a mini return to my old twitching days lately, hot on the heels of the Red Flanked Bluetail in Marshfield, my fourth in the UK. I went down to Pembroke yesterday, Friday 14th, to try and see a Great Spotted Cuckoo that had been reported on Wednesday this week.
I remember twitching one of these birds near Southampton over twenty years ago. I have also seen a few on my travels but they are always a nice bird to see.
The fog on the drive down was really dense and this coupled with endless roadworks made for a very unpleasant journey indeed. I was not very hopeful of seeing the bird in those foggy conditions, however, I was fairly sure that the fog would prevent it from flying away. When we arrived we saw the Cuckoo in a hawthorn bush quite near the car park, I think that's where it had been roosting.
After the mist began to lift slightly he began to move about and shortly after he flew onto the nearby golf course. We walked the public footpath through the course and soon after we saw him perched in a bush. It was obvious from the outset that any photographs would only be for record purposes as the mist never lifted much and viewing the bird, was at times, like looking through 'Cling-Film'.
We had a few very good views of him perching out, but the situation was not ideal because we couldn't wander around the golf course because technically there was no right of way and it is there for paying members. Having said this, all the golfers we met were very friendly and accommodating and many showed interest in the Cuckoo.
We had overall a successful day and met some very nice people from as far afield as Newcastle, Stoke and Sussex.
Please see Rare Birds, Great Spotted Cuckoo.
I remember twitching one of these birds near Southampton over twenty years ago. I have also seen a few on my travels but they are always a nice bird to see.
The fog on the drive down was really dense and this coupled with endless roadworks made for a very unpleasant journey indeed. I was not very hopeful of seeing the bird in those foggy conditions, however, I was fairly sure that the fog would prevent it from flying away. When we arrived we saw the Cuckoo in a hawthorn bush quite near the car park, I think that's where it had been roosting.
After the mist began to lift slightly he began to move about and shortly after he flew onto the nearby golf course. We walked the public footpath through the course and soon after we saw him perched in a bush. It was obvious from the outset that any photographs would only be for record purposes as the mist never lifted much and viewing the bird, was at times, like looking through 'Cling-Film'.
We had a few very good views of him perching out, but the situation was not ideal because we couldn't wander around the golf course because technically there was no right of way and it is there for paying members. Having said this, all the golfers we met were very friendly and accommodating and many showed interest in the Cuckoo.
We had overall a successful day and met some very nice people from as far afield as Newcastle, Stoke and Sussex.
Please see Rare Birds, Great Spotted Cuckoo.