Shining Cuckoos 2018

Bird sighting information. Use this forum to report bird sightings (especially rare and unusual birds), census and field count results, and trip reports. Messages posted to this forum will also be sent as a plain text email to the BIRDING-NZ newsgroup.
User avatar
simon.fordham
Posts: 297
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2009 3:19 pm
Contact:

Re: Shining Cuckoos 2018

Postby simon.fordham » Tue Sep 18, 2018 11:47 am

Just heard our first for the season. East Tamaki Heights, Auckland.
User avatar
Weka1
Posts: 65
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:15 am

Re: Shining Cuckoos 2018

Postby Weka1 » Fri Sep 21, 2018 9:39 am

In DoC Flagstaff bush reserve just to north Russell, Northland.
First call morning 21 September 2018.
Over the last 10 years mid September seems usual for first call in this reserve.
I would have expected a record of first song moving from north to south, but maybe not so.
Saw a bird flying with the jizz of a Shining cuckoo on 18 September, so it is possible bird may arrive well before first song?
User avatar
RussCannings
Posts: 1216
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2014 5:23 am

Re: Shining Cuckoos 2018

Postby RussCannings » Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:16 am

Cheers Weka,

I've often wondered about their migration strategy. It always seems that one is reported in August by someone then nothing for a couple weeks then random reports all around the country and by the first week if October they're everywhere. I would guess that legitimate August detections are overwintering birds. Presumably these birds are leaving the wintering grounds under favourable wind conditions as opposed to instinctual day-light triggers like longer-distance insectivors? Then they might fly nearly direct to their breeding grounds which could explain the lack of an arrival pattern. It's also not like we're really coordinating detection efforts. It would be interesting to compare nocturnal flight call survey data from say the Kaitaia area to that of the Tararuas or further south (in terms if first detection and frequency).

Still cuckooless in Morrinsville!

Russ
Ian Southey
Posts: 1100
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:45 pm

Re: Shining Cuckoos 2018

Postby Ian Southey » Sat Sep 22, 2018 5:13 pm

User avatar
Neil Fitzgerald
Site Admin
Posts: 3637
Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 10:20 am
Location: Hamilton, New Zealand
Contact:

Re: Shining Cuckoos 2018

Postby Neil Fitzgerald » Sun Sep 23, 2018 9:13 am

Just heard first one here this spring. South of Pirongia.
User avatar
ourspot
Posts: 349
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2016 10:24 pm
Location: Tutukaka Coast

Re: Shining Cuckoos 2018

Postby ourspot » Sun Sep 23, 2018 9:30 am

Heard first shining for the season in Ngunguru this morning
User avatar
RussCannings
Posts: 1216
Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2014 5:23 am

Re: Shining Cuckoos 2018

Postby RussCannings » Sun Sep 23, 2018 11:29 am

Cheers Ian,

Thanks for doing the work for me! Will have to look into LTs as well.

Went out to Te Aroha yesterday and patrolled the totara groves along the Paiko/Morrinsville greenbelt today. Still no cuckoos! 7 broods of Grey Teal at Howarth Memorial Wetlands and a nest building bellbird at the Te Aroha domain were neat spring consolations.
Cheryl Walton
Posts: 68
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2015 3:47 pm
Location: Tikokino, Central Hawkes Bay

Re: Shining Cuckoos 2018

Postby Cheryl Walton » Sun Sep 23, 2018 12:48 pm

Just heard first one for this Spring, Tikokino, Central Hawkes' Bay
Jim_j
Posts: 699
Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2013 1:04 pm

Re: Shining Cuckoos 2018

Postby Jim_j » Sun Sep 23, 2018 2:36 pm

Still none heard in Pukerua Bay and none heard over a 3 hour walk at Zealandia today - had heard them by now last year.

cheers
Jim
User avatar
Oscar Thomas
Posts: 932
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:15 pm
Location: Dunedin
Contact:

Re: Shining Cuckoos 2018

Postby Oscar Thomas » Sun Sep 23, 2018 6:37 pm

There was a photo posted on Facebook of one at Zealandia yesterday, they could still be silent there at the moment.

Return to “Bird Sightings and Alerts”