Yesterday lunchtime when I was watching the Taylor Lane Cuckoo it was on a distant wall to the left of the road then in a matter of seconds it appeared on a distant post to the right of the road but when I looked the left hand bird had gone. I was puzzled how it had got from A to B so quick and without me seeing it.
I dismissed it until this morning when I checked my blog to find comments from DB and JL suspecting 2 birds, then the penny dropped, there had to be 2.
Another rushed dinner and dog walk then off to Taylor lane. I made the mistake of spending time checking the Spotted Fly area first then driving down the lane to the cuckoo area which left me with 5 minutes spare before back to work.
As soon as I got to the spot 2 Cuckoos were on the wires together then squabbling for the top of the lamp post. A quick check through the bins to make sure I was,nt looking at a Kestrel to find the juv and alongside it an adult.
By the time I jumped out of the car with the camera, why does the camera strap always wrap around the gear lever when you,re in a rush, both birds dropped simultaneously down into the large nettle patch just over the wall, shown above, not to be seen again.
Well done to John Little and Dave Brotherton for picking up on the fact that there were 2 birds present.
Back up there late evening at 1925 hrs but all quiet and probably gone down to roost.
NK and DW picked up the adult Cuckoo this p.m. at the top of Taylor Lane.
PS The horse field by the Spotted Flycatcher trees looks a dead cert for passing Yellow Wagtail
BS