Updates from our Cuckoos
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.
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Trent has reached Africa
Joe has crossed the Sahara
We are pleased to report that since our last update Joe has completed his crossing of the Sahara, the first of our tagged birds to do so this year.
His journey south across the desert took him just west of the Aïr Mountains of northern Niger. By yesterday afternoon (Sunday 16 July) he had reached southern Niger and was close to the village of Tchadoua. Tchadoua is approximately 38 km (23 miles) east of Niger's second largest city, Maradi.
He is in the Sahel now where it is the rainy season and he will hopefully find plenty of food to replenish his depleted fat stores.
Trent visits the Pyrenees
Since our last update Trent has flown 517 km (322 miles) south to the south of France. He is now close to Lake Gaube in the Pyrenees, near the town of Cauterets on the France/Spain border.
Jasper moves south
Over the last couple of days Jasper has moved south and is now in the countryside west of Saint-Julien-du-Sault in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France.
Michael nudges north
Michael has flown 47 km (30 miles) from his last location and is now in the countryside surrounding Saint-Andéol-de-Berg in the Ardèche department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southern France.
He is keeping us guessing about whether he will take the easterly route through Italy or the westerly route via Spain!
Joe is crossing the Sahara
Joe is attempting to cross the Sahara, the first of our tagged birds to take on the desert this year.
When we last reported on him he was taking a break in Sardinia and new updates received last night (Thursday 13 June) show that he has flown at least 2,270 km (1,410 miles) since.
His journey has taken him across the Mediterranean and by late yesterday afternoon he was flying over Tassili N'Ajjer National Park in south-eastern Algeria. He pressed on and by 6:30 this morning (Friday 14 June) had reached north west Niger.
He seems to have made good progress across the desert so hopefully by the time the next updates arrive he will have successfully completed his Sahara crossing.
Bluey pushes on to southern Spain
Bluey reaches Spain
Over the last few days Bluey has powered south over France and into Spain. By yesterday morning he had reached the countryside surrounding the small village of Ribatajadilla in the municipality of Sotorribas, in Cuenca province, Castilla–La Mancha, Spain.
Last year Bluey arrived in southern Spain on 8 July and by 11 July he was crossing the Sahara so if he follows a similar plan this year we can expect him to move on very soon.
Joe is crossing the Med
New updates from Joe's tag arrived yesterday evening (Wednesday 12 June) showed that he had flown 483 km (300 miles) south-east from his last location in the south of France.
This journey has taken him just over half-way across the Mediterranean towards north Africa, landing him on Sardinia.
By 8pm last night he was near Bari Sardo in the eastern part of Sardinia. A further, lower quality signal suggests that he pressed on towards Africa so we await further updates with interest.
George pushes south in Italy
Since our last update, George has flown 266 km (166 miles) south east through Italy and is now just edging Sayaan and Cuach Torc as our most southerly Cuckoo.
He is currently a few miles west of the town of Canino in northern Lazio.
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