Updates from our Cuckoos

Trapped and tagged at Holne very early on the morning of 16 May, Ryder has subsequently spent most of his time in the area within 2km (1.25 miles) to the south and east of Venford Reservoir.  Both Dart and Ryder were still in the area close to where they were tagged on 11 June.  

Dart was tagged on the morning of 16 May at Holne, Dartmoor. From the locations received since tagging him, it appears that we lured him from the moors east of Dartmeet, across the River Dart to the trapping location - this fits in with him being seen flying into the nets from low in that direction by Dave Scott, who was assisting the team that morning. Since then, he has split his time between this area and another about 3.5km (2 miles) to the south, about 1.5km (1 mile) south of Vernford Reservoir, with occasional visits to the woods about 1.5km (1 mile) to the east, possibly to roost.

Whortle was caught very early on the 14 May at Cold East Cross, between Widdecombe-in-the-Moor and Ashburton, East Dartmoor, and was filmed by BBC Inside Out SW (due to be shown in September). He has spent most of his time since being tagged in the same area and the latest locations received this morning (12 June) place him very close to where he was trapped. 

Since being tagged as the weather closed-in, prior to some unseasonal snow fall at Haytor late-morning on 14 May, Tor has remained in East Dartmoor, primarily in the Becky Falls area, until 11 June at least. A signal received on the latter date suggested that he might have moved around 20km north-west to a location close to Okehampton during early morning of that day but due to the potential error on that location, further locations will be required to confirm this. 

After a public vote, the Broads Authority, who have funded the cost of the satellite-tag, have chosen to name Cuckoo 128301, Nelson, for its Norfolk associations. Nelson was tagged St Benet's Abbey at Holme on the Norfolk Broads. 

Cuckoo 128296 has received a name from Essex and Suffolk Water, who have made a generous contribution to the project. Staff voted for Ken, after Ken Saul, a volunteer at Burgh Common, the site where the cuckoo was caught, for over 30 years.

Transmissions from the last few days show that all four Cuckoos which have returned to their breeding grounds are still in their respective areas. They are likely to remain in and around these areas looking for breeding opportunities for at least the next month.We now assume Lloyd has perished in Morocco as there is no reason for him to remain in his current position for so long. Last year, the earliest Cuckoo to leave the UK was Chris, on the 11 June, while David and BB left on 18 and Chance on the 22 June. Wallace, one of the birds tagged in Scotland last year, was the last to leave, transmitting from outside the UK on 23 July, just one day later than the last bird, Lyster, in 2011.