Cuckoo

I heard my first cuckoo of spring at Bainton Pits yesterday (28 April) and there was another calling from Maxey Pits this morning. I wonder if we will hear one actually in Helpston this year - it was always a feature of early mornings in late spring when I first moved here in 1997, but I haven't heard one in the village for a while.

There was also a wheatear sitting on a fence post on the Maxey-Helpston road this morning (7.30am). Ivan Cumberpatch has reported two regularly from Maxey Pits recently.

Our other spring migrants are starting to arrive in good numbers now. Whitethroats are singing from the hedgerows and nightingales are in full song at Bainton Pits already. Grasshoppor warblers have been 'reeling' away at the Hanglands since 12 April.