Updates from our Cuckoos

In recent days Joe has made remarkable progress, covering some 2,500 km (1,500 miles) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo through to Ghana, passing through five African countries en route.

Presently just about bang in the centre of Ghana, he is in the tropical savannah region, close to a large tributary of the Black Volta river.

Since our last update in mid-February, Cleeve has move slowly northwards. Still in the Republic of the Congo, he is now in the north-west of the country, around 530 km (330 miles) north from his main wintering area.

Close to the northern border of Gabon, he is currently just west of Odzala-Kokoua National Park, one of Africa’s oldest national parks and home to Forest Elephant and Western Lowland Gorilla.

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.

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 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 Republic of the Congo. Is this the start of his northbound spring migration?

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.  

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 has spent the last few weeks in a heavily forested region in the southern part of 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 Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Elephant and more than 260 bird species.

Of all our tagged Cuckoos, Wilfrid is the bird who has gone furthest south at this time, and he is currently in north-west Angola, close to the mouth of the mighty Congo River.

He has travelled in excess of 9,000 km (5,592 miles) since leaving his Suffolk breeding grounds in July!

Sayaan, along with Cuckoos Joe and KP, is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is exploring the lush forests by the Maringa River, just 146 km (90 miles) to the north-east of Cuckoo KP.

This is the same region where he spent his last winter, and he'll likely stay here until he gets the urge to move north again in late February.