Shining Cuckoos 2021-22

[Kirsten B Olsen]

Heard my first shining cuckoo yesterday, near Pahiatua.

[Chris Bindon]

Heard our first shining cuckoo of the year here in (rural) Waitakere just gone on Saturday the 18th. We don't keep the first seen/heard date for them as each year rolls around but our earliest shining cuckoo we recorded here over nine years on the property was on 18th Aug. It certainly felt late this year and of course was exactly a month later than this our earliest observation.

I wonder how much this relates, or not to significant periods lately of north and north/easterly winds up here in comparison to more usual westerly and of course south/westerly winds? I appreciate there's a lot we don't know about this as well as our long tailed cuckoo's migration routes to and from NZ and I'm not sure how much shining cuckoo heading back here is more erring towards north/south (likely north and north easterly wind supported) versus birds coming southward down the east coast of Australia before heading eastward (west, south/westerly supported) on their way back over to Aotearoa?

I've been advised that our long tails when leaving our shores head in a more northerly direction, not that much heading westward and then more northerly up Australia's eastern coast back up to the tropics at end of summer/autumn but that shining cuckoo certainly do which seems to be supported in observations there. Is anyone more in the know able to shed any light on these aspects on known bird movements, likely directional routes, the the different wind influences and of course likely outcomes on them while they're travelling the Pacific please?

Thanks,

Chris

[Pat Miller]

Heard my first shining cuckoo this season yesterday at Onerahi, Whangarei.

[Colin Miskelly]

A Zealandia staff member reported her first of the season there today (2 days after my nil count there)
Colin

[Mike Vincent]

First of the season for this morning at Lake Okareka and the second near the DOC office in Rotorua

[Katie]

I heard my first (ever) by the Weiti Creek Medical Centre in Silverdale yesterday. Was quite thrilling to hear an actual one instead of a Thrush Imposter!!

[colinrl]

2 Shining Cuckoos heard at Waikumete cemetery approx. 12.00 am.

[jimmifinn]

Heard my fist Shining Cuckoo of the year at 2.55pm this afternoon.
Having coffee snd nibbles in the back garden at café, 'Behind The Door On 4' at Upokongaro, a Shining Cuckoo called twice from across the Upokongsro Stream.

[GrahamB]

First one here in our garden in Waikanae yesterday (29 September).
Cheers, GrahamB

Also another falcon drama a couple of days before: a pair displaying over the house/garden (chickens making a racket under a lemon tree) and one sat on the TV aerial for a few minutes being regularly overflown by Tuis.

[Jim_j]

1st heard Hanmer Springs today.
None heard around Picton 25 September or in Pukerua Bay prior.

Cheers
Jim