The lockdown for us here in Sherborne has been less road traffic, less polluted air, more invertebrate diversity, greater botanical life emerging and the dawn chorus of bird song has been spectacular to listen too every morning. My recent daily walks out birding has been well reward during May with Cuckoos on spring passage returning to the farm and singing on site!! Total of 3 different male cuckoos and two females seen one morning was a magical moment and personal highlight of the year for me.
Cuckoos are regular spring migrants to the Somerset levels and open countryside areas of Dorset but to have so many on the farm this spring really shows how lockdown has allowed "normally" busy/noisy areas disturbed by local walkers, farm traffic etc turn the farm into a haven for these special birds.
One early morning, Hannah and myself walked across the farm up to the hill where we sat and watched two male Cuckoo and two females constantly flying backwards and forwards across the fields and woodland tree tops displaying to each other. The distinct bubbling call of the female Cuckoo is certainly a rare sound nowadays and one I have only heard couple times in the past!!
The joys of watching the Cuckoos and listening to their song echo across the farmland while Swallows and House Martins fly overhead, Whitethroats and Blackcaps flickering in nearby bushes, singing and setting up territories while the local woodland resident Robins and Blackbirds sing their hearts out to the world. Truly magical moment of natural history. We felt like we had travelled back in time to when Cuckoos were the bread and butter sound of summer across the United Kingdom. it really shows how we as Humans can change our way of life and how nature steps in straight away to reclaim their lost homes and habitats once again.
The Cuckoos have remained on the farm throughout the past few weeks singing mostly in the early morning from the nearby fields, where I can sit in bed and enjoy the sound of summer right on our doorstep. Looking forward to the next few months as wildlife thrives and nestles down to breed and the first signs of autumn will be not too long around the corner.
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| Male Cuckoo flies right over singing his summer song! |
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| Female Cuckoo-More browner plumage and barred throat |
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| "Cuc-koo, Cuc-koo" |
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| Sitting and singing atop a tree |
