First cuckoos of spring

10:40am Thursday 1st May 2008

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HEAVY showers and cool temperatures have made for the weather of the past week being anything but spring-like.

But despite these conditions, spring has arrived and with it the first of our migrant summer bird visitors, including the cuckoo, swallow and swift.

Bird Patrol, the Hereford Times’ own dedicated website set up to monitor the arrival of these visitors has already received many reports from readers from throughout Herefordshire and bordering counties.

Among the reports was one from Vera and Dez Bromage, from Presteigne. Having lived much of their life in Manchester, they have established a new home on the Rockbridge Resident-ial Park in the town where they first heard the cuckoo on Saturday, April 26.

“We moved here in November last year from Manchester and have been privileged to see and hear many birds that we have only ever seen on TV before. It was the best move we ever made.” The first report of the cuckoo this year was made by Judy Brown of Bishopswood, near Ross-on-Wye, who reported its call on Saturday, April 19, five days after seeing the first swallow. On Sunday, April 20, Ken Tullett of Hereford heard the cuckoo in Wyevale Wood.

The first swifts in the county were reported as being seen on Tuesday this week at the Weir Gardens at Swainshill.

Visit Bird Patrol and report your sightings at herefordtimes.com/features/ birdpatrol and leave your comment.