Updates from our Cuckoos

Reacher didn't stay in Italy as long as we thought he might. Just 2 days after arriving he had moved off and was transmitting off the coast of France near Toulon, 300km (188 miles) further south and west. He then headed 265km further west (160 miles) across the sea to reach the eastern most corner of southern France, resting around 12km (10 miles) from Perpignan.

The last transmission we received from BB's tag on the 30 June shows that he has moved around 85km (52 miles) in a south-easterly direction from his position in Germany. He is now close to the border between Germany and the Czech Republic and currently appears to be just inside the Czech border near Hranicná.

Iolo was lagging behind David, his fellow Welsh Cuckoo. However he has now completed a huge leg of his migratory journey, arriving in northern Italy. Data received from his tag on the 25 confirmed that he was in the Netherlands, however his next transmission on the 27 showed a location just south of Milan. This is the same area that Chris spent 3 weeks in April 2012 on his return journey.

David continues to set precedents for our satellite-tagged Cuckoos. He was the first Cuckoo tracked to Slovakia and now is the first to transmit from Montenegro. We received data on the 25 June confirming his location in Slovakia, and the next transmission, received yesterday on the 27, came from Montenegro. That's a journey of 700km (440 miles), taking David very close to the Adriatic Sea. Will he cross the sea and stage in Italy?

115602 finally has a name and will now be known as Chance. He has been named after Edgar Chance,  a British ornithologist noted for his pioneering studies on the breeding behaviour of the Common Cuckoo.

Lyster remains in Norfolk and, with 115589's recent movement across the sea to Europe, is the last of our English Cuckoos still in England. Will he be the last to leave again this year? There are still two Scottish birds who also remain in the UK.

Transmissions received on the 24 June indicated that 115589 was crossing the North Sea and a weak signal yesterday gave a position in Belgium. This morning another signal provided evidence that he had travelled across Belgium and south into France. He currently appears to be around 130km (80 miles) from Reims, in the north of France.

Both Wallace and Roy remain in Scotland whilst the three other Scottish birds are currently in Europe. Transmissions received yesterday indicated that Wallace was heading southwards. He moved 30km (20 miles) from his position between Irvine and Troon and was close to the village of Patna. From here he headed off in a south-easterly direction, flying 110km (70miles) before transmitting from Canonbie. He is very close to the Scottish-English border.

By lunchtime on the 20 June, BB was transmitting from Germany, having travelled 410 km (253 miles) from Friesland. He appears to have travelled 110 km (70 miles) east within Germany and, as of yesterday morning, was in the Sachsen-Anhelt region.

115597 has continued on from his position near Paris, heading south 450km (277 miles) south-east and then a further 70 km (45 miles) directly south. He is now 80km (50 miles) north of Marseille and the coast.