On 2015-08-10 15:57:57 +0000, Graham P Davis said:

On Mon, 10 Aug 2015 15:17:22 +0100
Asha Santon wrote:

On 10/08/15 10:20, Graham P Davis wrote:
On Mon, 10 Aug 2015 09:14:43 +0100
Asha Santon wrote:

I don't think I've ever heard a cuckoo of either nationality so
wouldn't know

Judging by Chris Packham's first appearance on Springwatch, I reckon
you're not alone. ... Not only that, he had never heard of the
rhyme. For Chris Packham and anyone else who doesn’t know, the
cuckoo changes his call from "cuckoo" to "cuck - cuckoo", sounding
as though he initially has forgotten what comes after "cuck" and
then remembers.

Not only have I not heard a cuckoo, I haven't heard of that rhyme
beyond this ng. What I did do, however, is look it up when I got home.

The Collins Field Guide, Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Northern
Europe tends to disagree with the point you made.
It says (roughly) that in spring, individual birds offer variations
on their call, often adding 'a third coo' (cu-coo-coo) which leads
them to be confused with collared doves.

It goes on to mention 'they are said to change their tune in June'
but all that happens is their calls become weaker and croaky once
multiplication has ended. They seem not to add a syllable unless they
were the ones doing that anyway.


All I can suggest is to get a different book. ;-)

As if


I've just checked my "Observer's Book of Birds" but that's not a great
deal of help either. However, it does mention "low, harsh calls like
coughing or clearing the throat". The only time I heard that sound and
had it identified for me, I thought it sounded like a dirty laugh,
rather like Sid James.

That would be the weak and croaky no doubt.
The book is accompanied by two CDs with lots of numnies thereon.
Oddly enough, I haven't heard the cuckoo on them either as I haven't
had reason to.


--
AS
http://minnies.opcop.org.uk
I knew the Triffids were real when I saw the signs
Caution: Heavy plant crossing

I don't think I've ever heard a cuckoo of either nationality
Take a trip west to Banffshire next May. I hear them
regularly.

Anne

We may do that. Are there any nice walks?
I like many of your photos btw

Lots - both official and unofficial. What sort of walks do you
like? We can do everything from railway lines to high tops.

And thank you.

Anne

On 10/08/15 21:37, Anne B wrote:
I don't think I've ever heard a cuckoo of either nationality
Take a trip west to Banffshire next May. I hear them
regularly.

Anne

We may do that. Are there any nice walks?
I like many of your photos btw

Lots - both official and unofficial. What sort of walks do you
like? We can do everything from railway lines to high tops.

We like most but we are currently doing railway (FaBW) with the
Cairngorms next on the list. Given we are discussing spring next year, I
suppose railway or similar might be a nice start to the season.
We generally like to walk anything from 10 to 15 km (mostly the higher
end) which invariably means parking somewhere, then walking 'there and
back'.

I found this:
http://www.banffshirecoast.com/WalkingExplore/
but the descriptions don't mean a lot to me. R might know more being a
native but either way most seem a bit short.

All information welcome.


--
A S
http://nature.opcop.org.uk
http://pictures.opcop.org.uk

We like most but we are currently doing railway (FaBW) with
the Cairngorms next on the list. Given we are discussing
spring next year, I suppose railway or similar might be a nice
start to the season.
We generally like to walk anything from 10 to 15 km (mostly
the higher end) which invariably means parking somewhere, then
walking 'there and back'.

I found this:
http://www.banffshirecoast.com/WalkingExplore/
but the descriptions don't mean a lot to me. R might know more
being a native but either way most seem a bit short.
Yes, they look a bit short.

Go to Banff, get a bus to Portsoy or Sandend or Cullen or
Portknockie or Findochty or Buckie and walk back along the
coast - pick whatever distance you like. The only slightly
tricky bit is the bit from Boyne Bay to Strathmarchin Bay (or
vice versa) - you either need to cross the Burn of Boyne at low
tide, or put up with wet feet, and the folk in the quarry get
upset if you try to walk through there.

You can do something similar east of Banff but the buses are
less frequent and the going is much rougher - sometimes with no
paths at all. I particularly enjoyed walking from St John's Kirk
at Gamrie to Tarlair, following the cliff top - great views that
you can't see from anywhere else, but no path most of the way.
Pick your weather - it would be a terrible waste to go there on
a gloomy day.

I keep meaning to take the bike to the FaBW. Maybe later on in
the year when I am not so busy.

Anne

On 11/08/15 20:26, Anne B wrote:
We like most but we are currently doing railway (FaBW) with
the Cairngorms next on the list. Given we are discussing
spring next year, I suppose railway or similar might be a nice
start to the season.
We generally like to walk anything from 10 to 15 km (mostly
the higher end) which invariably means parking somewhere, then
walking 'there and back'.

I found this:
http://www.banffshirecoast.com/WalkingExplore/
but the descriptions don't mean a lot to me. R might know more
being a native but either way most seem a bit short.
Yes, they look a bit short.

Go to Banff, get a bus to Portsoy or Sandend or Cullen or
Portknockie or Findochty or Buckie and walk back along the
coast - pick whatever distance you like. The only slightly
tricky bit is the bit from Boyne Bay to Strathmarchin Bay (or
vice versa) - you either need to cross the Burn of Boyne at low
tide, or put up with wet feet, and the folk in the quarry get
upset if you try to walk through there.

You can do something similar east of Banff but the buses are
less frequent and the going is much rougher - sometimes with no
paths at all. I particularly enjoyed walking from St John's Kirk
at Gamrie to Tarlair, following the cliff top - great views that
you can't see from anywhere else, but no path most of the way.
Pick your weather - it would be a terrible waste to go there on
a gloomy day.

I keep meaning to take the bike to the FaBW. Maybe later on in
the year when I am not so busy.

Anne

Thanks for those. We'll keep them in mind come the cuckoo season.
There's a plant up that way I'm after too.

We've seen a few cyclists on the FaBW, mostly at the southern end
(because of the higher population density I suppose). Never more than
three per day even so.

--
A S
http://minnies.opcop.org.uk
http://nature.opcop.org.uk
http://pictures.opcop.org.uk

Thanks for those. We'll keep them in mind come the cuckoo
season.
Ah. I allowed myself to get distracted. The coastal walk is not
in mainstream cuckoo country. I hear those most often in rural
areas inland - my Breeding Bird Survey square near Keith almost
always has one, and there are others in the same general area.

There's a plant up that way I'm after too.
Oh? Which one?

Anne

On 2015-08-12 17:49:22 +0000, Anne B said:


Thanks for those. We'll keep them in mind come the cuckoo season.
Ah. I allowed myself to get distracted. The coastal walk is not in
mainstream cuckoo country. I hear those most often in rural areas
inland - my Breeding Bird Survey square near Keith almost always has
one, and there are others in the same general area.

Okay, can wander that way too.


There's a plant up that way I'm after too.
Oh? Which one?

Anne

Wood sorrel. There's a backstory (isn't there always).

My mums went on hols years ago to Aberlour (I think) and on the way,
there or back, encountered wood sorrel. Mum made a photo for her nature
site but during a change of computers later, all of the originals from
that trip were lost (a few hundred including her legendary 'wood nymph'
pic). The wood sorrel on the site is less than wonderful so I wanted to
get a new one for her but have never seen the flower anywhere. So, a
retracing of ancient ancestral paths is called for.


--
AS
http://minnies.opcop.org.uk
I knew the Triffids were real when I saw the signs
Caution: Heavy plant crossing

There's a plant up that way I'm after too.
Oh? Which one?

Anne

Wood sorrel. There's a backstory (isn't there always).

Ah. I can show you any amount of wood sorrel at the right time
of year.

Anne

On 12/08/15 23:34, Anne B wrote:
There's a plant up that way I'm after too.
Oh? Which one?

Anne

Wood sorrel. There's a backstory (isn't there always).

Ah. I can show you any amount of wood sorrel at the right time
of year.

Anne

All I have to do now is to remember that come April-May (as specified by
FFB).


--
A S
http://minnies.opcop.org.uk
http://nature.opcop.org.uk
http://pictures.opcop.org.uk