A cuckoo in the Nest..........

I am very lucky to live where I live....on the edge of a village in rural Buckinghamshire overlooking fields and hedgerows and, just a short distance away, a very pretty lake with an extensive reed bed. I woke this morning to the sound of a cuckoo, a sound that was much more common in the past than it is now. The birds are still attracted to the area following their return migration from Africa by the presence of reed warblers, which are a common host for this species. Despite their deceptive activities, their call - although repetitive - is quite beautiful and certainly heralds the arrival of Spring. This video - particularly the opening scenes - is very evocative of early mornings around Weston Turville Reservoir. The BTO has been radio-tracking individual cuckoos to try and discover clues as to their movements and possible reasons for their diminished presence. Whatever the cause of their decline, whether it be drought in their wintering areas or a decline in the 'wooly' caterpillars they feed on, I hope they return and I can wake up to their call for many years to come........