My Cuckkoo crosses the Sahara

 Here is the latest news of my Cuckoo, Arthur.

 

Arthur is back in action Shortly after we sent the last update telling you that we'd had no updates from Suffolk Cuckoo Arthur since 3rd July, his tag pinged back to life, revealing that he had left Suffolk and reached northern Spain. Since then he has made steady progress south, firstly to Morocco then across the Sahara via the western route through Western Sahara and Mauritania to Senegal. Since leaving Spain he has covered over 2,000 miles to reach his current location and is following almost exatcly the same timetable as last year.

My Cuckko is on its way south.

 The latest bulletin on my Cuckoo, Arthur

Arthur heads south

10 Jul 2026

Just days ago, Arthur had the distinction of being the last remaining tagged Cuckoo still in the UK. Well, he hasn’t lingered any longer, and he has since made quite a move, leaving Suffolk and flying determinedly south through France, and down to the Spanish border to the west of the Pyrenees. 

This time last year Arthur had already reached Morocco. Let’s hope that the heatwave currently impacting areas of southern Europe does not hinder his progress.   

Beautiful Demoiselle.

 

Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly. Photo. John Elliott. Click to enlarge.

 

Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies, both male and female, continue to fly in my wildlife garden. Still classified as 'unusual' in this area, and stated to breed only in running water, it is to be noted that the two gardens where they have been recorded so far, mine and one in Park Farm close, both have ponds. Are the damselflies breeding in these ponds? 

My Cuckoo.

 My Cuckoo, Arthur,has spent the last few weeks since arriving from Africa, flying around a very limited area of Norfolk where he was born, looking for a mate. Here is the plot of his travels.

 

Cuckoo Artur's recent tracks in Norfolk

 

 

  The Open Garden last Sunday which was held in a very watery garden in Park Farm Close provided a chance to see several damselflies currently on the wing.  Azure blues were perhaps the most plentiful, with blue bodies, marked in black. Details of the pattern of the markings distinguishes them from the Common Blue. A photo which can be displayed on a large screen is the easiest way to sort them out. 

Not easy to photograph as they don't sit still very long. 

 

Azure damselflies. Photo John Elliott. Click to enlarge.

Several Beautiful Demoiselles were seen. These are recent arrivals in the village, first arriving in my garden further down the village three years ago. Previously I had only seen the small colony down the Weymouth Road.  

  Female Beautiful Demoiselle. Photo. John Elliott. Click to enlarge.

 

They are unique in having fully coloured wings, light tan in the female and blue/black in the male. The female has a browny/green body and the male bright blue. 

 

   Male Beautiful Demoiselle. Photo.  John Elliott. click to enlarge. 

 

 Beautiful Demoiselles breed in running water but may be seen anywhere, commonly sitting on dark green foliage. The only insect they are likely to be confused with is the Banded Demoiselle, which has only the outer half of the wing coloured. It does occur occasionally along the stream.      

A single Large Red damselfly was also seen but didn't stay around long.

 

 

My Cuckoo, Athur, back from Africa.

   My Cuckoo, Arthur.

 The latest bulletin from the BTO on my tagged Cuckoo.

" Arthur sticks with Suffolk

Shortly after Ashok left Worlingham Marshes, our other Suffolk Cuckoo Arthur arrived on site, completing his first full tracked migration cycle to Africa and back. After hanging out close to the Oasis Camel Park for a few days, Arthur returned to Worlingham Marshes where he has remained so far. "

 

Arthur will now spend the next six weeks or so finding a mate, and then wll be off on his return journey to the Central Africa rainforest. 

Celandies, both Lesser and Greater.

 

 

 

Greater Celandine. Photo.John Elliott.Click to enlarge.

 

The cheerful yellow of the Lesser Celandines which have covered much of my wildlife garden in the past few weeks is now fading, and being replaced by the more subdued, paler yellow of the small patch of Greater Celadine at the bottom of the garden. Not numerous, but widely scattered  throughout  Dorset, and stated to have been found in Roman material,  the Greater Celandine is a member of the PAPAVERACEAE or Poppy Family, not the Celandines. Formerly a herbalists remedy for warts and eye troubles. Breaking the stem reveales an orange latex which contains several poisonous alkaloids, including chelidonin and chelerythrin. Another one to add to our list of poisonous plants in the valley. Of these the Lords and Ladies is in bloom and increasing from year to year, and Hemlock Water Dropwort along the stream will soon be flowering.