Cuach Torc.

 The latest bulletin from the BTO brings the sad news that my Cuckoo is now presumed dead, no contact having been made with him since last December. 

Cuach Torc's movements

14 Apr 2025 - Time out for Cuach Torc

Cuach Torc defied expectations by engaging in some rather unexpected autumn migratory manoeuvres in Europe (see his earlier posts for details!), finally arriving south of the Sahara in early November.

We last heard from him from his position in north-east Gabon, close to the border with Republic of the Congo on 19 December.

Regarding the Cuckoos who we have not heard from for a while, it may be that they are still alive but there is an issue with their tags and we are simply not receiving signals. However, it is normal for birds die in the course of their long migrations, on their breeding grounds, or in their wintering quarters. While we will rarely know what did really happen to these individuals, the incredible information that they provide is invaluable in helping us to understand the extraordinary lives of UK breeding Cuckoos.

More Cowslips.

 I had a walk through the Grove Hill Bottom wood earlier in search of  Ramsoms, or Wild Garlic as it sometimes called. One plant bloomed last year but can't have set seed as there was no sign of it. It was therefor espescialy pleasing to find a small patch of Cowslips, new to this part of the valley.

                                                 Grove Hill Bottom Cowslips. Photo. John Elliott.

No sign of my  Cuckoo yet I am afraid, though some of the tagged Cuckoos are now well on their way home.

Yellow mellow.

 

As the village's Snowdrops and Daffodils fade the wild flowers of Spring are coming into bloom. The steep valley sides of the path to Ashton are a picture with the white of Blackthorn lining the path at the western end, followed by the brilliant yellow of the Gorse lining the bank at the eastern end.   Three of our earliest butterflies, the Brimstone, the Peacock and the Orange Tip are appearing regularly on the path now.

 

Emergant Peacock. Photo. John Elliott

 

Blackthorn. Photo. John Elliott

 

The Dorset dialect name for the sloes which the blackthorn bears is 'snags', hence snag-bush for the tree.  It is of great herbal medicine value, plus Sloe Gin of course. It is probable the ancestor, or one of two ancestors, of our garden plums. Gorse doesn't seem to have a specifically Dorset name, but Furze (Fuzz or Vuzz) is usual in the south-west. Before the coal trade developed Gorse was of great value as fuel for bakers and others, and with spines crushed it made valuable feeding for stock in the winter.

 

 

 

Ashton Gorse. Photo. John Elliott

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cowslips are not common in the valley, so the patch by the Rainbarrow farm entrance is especially welcome. There is another small patch by Purlands Farm further along the A35. There seem to be rather a lot of Dorset names - Creivel, Crewell,Fairy Cups, Hotdrod, Holrod, Oddrod, Paigle and the delightfull tisty-tosty. Used to make one of the best of country wines.

 

Rainbarrow Cowslips. Photo. John Elliott

All the pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.