A Cuckoo was busy calling and circuiting the south side of Plumstone Mountain this morning. It appears to be the same individual as in previous years as it perched on the same conifers on the edge of Causeway Plantation and the same dead trees in the scrub just to the south of the heath.
The warm sunshine early on seemed to get the summer visitors in a good mood. Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers were all in good voice and there was a Grasshopper Warbler somewhere near the pony paddock for good measure. A couple of Yellowhammers were flitting around, but not singing.
In the nearby plantation the warblers were enjoying an eruption of insects and occasionally singing, but there was no sign of Spotted Flycatchers yet. As usual a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming.
A Red Kite tried to vole- or mole-bomb me as I walked back down the bridleway on the west side of the plantation - very strange behaviour, it looked deliberate and a bit like when crows deliberately drop a mussel on the beach. The unfortunate victim hit the ground only about 15m from me, but somewhere in the gorse hedge. I will check the camera tomorrow for pictures.
Another Cuckoo was calling at Rosebush quarry this evening and a quick tour along old railway track produced at least 4 Grasshopper Warblers. A good day.
