Read the latest updates from our Cuckoos on their epic migration between the UK and tropical Africa, or track their movements in real-time on our Cuckoo migration map. If you enjoy these updates, please consider sponsoring a Cuckoo. Sponsors receive special updates about their chosen Cuckoo in the Cuckoo e-newsletter.
Wilfrid’s Way Out West
Having spent the last few months deep in the forests of north-west Angola (furthest south of all our tagged Cuckoos), Wilfrid is now clearly feeling the urge to head back north.
He has made a massive leap, covering multiple African countries, passing through Gabon and western Cameroon before arriving in Nigeria a few days ago.
From here, he has continued his journey, sweeping past a further four countries until arriving at his current location in south-eastern Guinea. He has already covered approximately 3,700 km (2,300 miles) since leaving his wintering quarters in Angola.
Time's up for Nick 2
Having made slow progress initially last autumn, Nick 2 eventually powered on and swiftly crossed the Sahara. By late July he had made up for lost time and already reached the southern Mauritania and Senegal border.
He lingered in this area for some time, but unfortunately, this appears to be as far as he got. His tag has continued to transmit from the same area, suggesting that he died here.
Sayaan's significant shift
After several weeks deep in the swampy forests near the Maringa River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sayaan appears to have become a little restless.
In the last month, he has covered some distance, first flying 420 km (260 miles) north-west to the border of the Republic of the Congo, before heading a further 230 km (143 miles) south-west to the expansive Likouala Aux Herbes River.
Is he gearing up for a rapid move north?
Hafren makes a move
Hafren has made a significant move in recent days. Having spent much of his winter in eastern Gabon, he has now flown some 160 km (100 miles) north-east into the Republic of the Congo. Is this the start of his northbound spring migration?
Joe still in the Congo
At this present time, old-timer Joe remains in his wintering grounds in the dense rainforests on the northern edge of the vast Busira River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He was in the same region at this time last year, but had started to move north by the end of the month – will he repeat this move? Tagged in Norfolk in summer 2022, this will be the third spring that we may track his movements north!
Cleeve clings on
Cleeve has spent the last few weeks in a heavily forested region in the southern part of the Republic of the Congo.
He is just west of the Lefini Reserve, a protected area which is home to an array of wildlife including Western Lowland Gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants and more than 260 bird species.
Hafren swoops into central Senegal
Five days ago we could see that Hafren was approaching the border of Western Sahara from Morocco.
Since then, he continued his journey south, covering a further 1,660 km (1,030 miles).
He then made his way along the coast of western Mauritania and our most recent signal, received at 6.24am today, shows that he has now headed inland, and is in central Senegal, having spent some time in the relatively lush environs of the Sylvo-Pastorale National Park.
Wilfrid's way out West Africa
Our last update from Wilfrid, around a week ago, saw him still lingering in Portugal.
However, soon after this he set off across the Atlantic, bypassing the Canary Islands and the Moroccan coast, and making landfall at Dakhla, in the Western Sahara region.
From here, he continued through Senegal, and our latest signal shows that he is now following the River Gambia and is just 60km (37 miles) from the Guinea border. Since leaving Portugal Wilfrid has flown more than 2,900 km (1,800 miles).
Joe follows familiar route
This is the third ‘autumn’ that we have been able to follow Joe, after he was satellite tagged in Norfolk in May 2022, and he has taken much the same route this year as on earlier migrations.
Mirroring his previous movements, he is currently in south-east Chad, nearing the Bahr Aouk River, on the border of Central African Republic.
Hafren makes for the Maghreb
Hafren has now left Spain and is making his way south along the North African coast.
His route saw him setting off across the sea, leaving the Spanish mainland west of the famous Doñana National Park, before arriving on the Moroccan coast just to the north of the city of Agadir.
At 7.36 this morning, we received a signal showing that he was close to the Western Sahara border. In the last 48 hours Hafren has covered around 1,220 km (758 miles).