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First Cuckoo

First Cuckoo

Cuckoo

The 14th April is St. Tiburtius Day and is traditionally when you will hear the first cuckoo, as celebrated in Rudyard Kipling’s Cuckoo Song:

Cuckoo, bring your song here!
Warrant, Act and Summons, please,
For Spring to pass along here!

The cuckoo migrates north from Africa and the date of its arrival, although traditionally the 14th April, varies in different parts of the country.

The first sighting is often in the far South West, in the Isle of Scilly and then gradually moves northwards. In recent years the cuckoo has tended to arrive on average five days earlier than usual, likely due to climate change.

On hearing the first cuckoo in spring it is traditional to pen a letter to The Times, but you can also send your reports to us – we’d love to hear from you. Just let us know when and where you heard or saw it.

Every year we get lots of people telling us they’ve heard cuckoos well before April, but cuckoos are very unlikely to have made their way back from Africa in January, February, or early March, so it’s probably a case of mistaken identity.

If you think you’ve heard a cuckoo very early on have a read of this for more information.

Have you heard a cuckoo this year?

First Cuckoo Godshill 2025

Jackie Lindsay heard a cuckoo in Godshill near Fordingbridge in Hampshire on the 25th April.

She said, “I was on holiday in the New Forest 25th April – 2nd May, staying in Godshill. I heard the cuckoo every day several times for the whole of my stay. On my last day I heard 3 at the same time!!

“My cousin lives in that area and she heard the first cuckoo on April 17th.”

25 April 2025

First Cuckoo Pevensey 2025

Wendy Payne heard a cuckoo on the 2nd May in Pevensy, East Sussex.

Since then she has also heard one in Langney, Eastbourne, adding it must be a different one!

2 May 2025

First Cuckoo Brocton 2025

Mrs. M. Wood heard a cuckoo on the 5th May in Brocton, Staffordshire.

5 May 2025

First Cuckoo Standlake 2025

Gwen heard a cuckoo yesterday in Hardwick Park in Standlake, Oxfordshire.

She said, “We hear it here every year.”

6 May 2025

First Cuckoo Peterborough 2025

Kerri Melero heard a cuckoo on the 24th April at Bedford Purlieus nature reserve near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.

24 April 2025

First Cuckoo Beddgelert 2025

On the 5th of May, Simon Cameron heard two cuckoos calling to each other across a valley in Beddgelert, Gwynedd.

5 May 2025

First Cuckoo Grimsby 2025

Rebecca Stennett heard a cuckoo on the 27th of April in Bradley Woods, Grimsby

27 April 2025

First Cuckoo Gospel End 2025

Donna Aston heard a cuckoo in Baggeridge County Park in Staffordshire on the 30th of April.

30 April 2025

First Cuckoo Illogan 2025

Mary James heard a cuckoo on the 20th of April in Illogan, Cornwall.

20 April 2025

First Cuckoo Rothbury 2025

Gary Murphy heard a cuckoo on the 5th of May at Cragside National Trust near Rothbury, Northumberland.

He said he Heard it when at the top North East corner of the estate.

5 May 2025

First Cuckoo Pebworth 2025

Jason Lewis saw and heard a cuckoo in Pebworth, Worcestershire on the 24th of April.

24 April 2025

First Cuckoo Bircher 2025

Julia Marshall heard a cuckoo on Bircher Common in Herefordshire.

7 May 2025

First Cuckoo Heacham 2025

Lynne Cooper heard a ccukoo on the 2nd May while eating breakfast on the terrace of Heacham Manor, Norfolk.

2 May 2025

First Cuckoo Eaton 2025

Sue heard a cuckoo at 6:45 am near Eaton in Nottinghamshire.

5 May 2025

First Cuckoo Standlake 2025

Alex King heard a cuckoo yesterday in Standlake, Oxfordshire.

If you want to hear clearly what a cuckoo sounds like, have a watch of the video Alex kindly shared.

4 May 2025

First Cuckoo Howden 2025

Jonathan Hick heard a cuckoo at Woodcock Wood, Park Farm, 1 mile north west of Howden in East Yorkshire.

5 May 2025

First Cuckoo Whitchurch 2025

Jean White heard a cuckoo at Bettisfield Moss nature reserve in North Shropshire.

4 May 2025

First Cuckoo Horlosh 2025

Paul Thomas heard a cuckoo in Horlosh on the Isle of Skye.

3 May 2025

First Cuckoo Great Ellingham 2025

Edward Gladden heard a cuckoo on the 1st of May south west of Wylands Farm, Great Ellingham, Attleborough, Norfolk.

1 May 2025

First Cuckoo Tonbridge 2025

David Richards heard a cuckoo in Tonbridge, Kent.

3 May 2025

First Cuckoo Matlock 2025

Mark Hewson heard a cuckoo at Farley Moor, Matlock, Derbyshire. Recorded on Merlin App.

He said, “First that I’ve heard for years. Nice clear recording on my Merlin App. Around midday on a clear, warm day. Lovely to hear.”

24 April 2025

First Cuckoo Fritham 2025

Martin Sirl heard a cuckoo in Fritham in the New Forest, Hampshire.

2 May 2025

First Cuckoo Yelverton 2025

Lucy heard a cuckoo on the 27th of April at Burrator reservoir near Yelverton, Devon.

27 April 2025

First Cuckoo Handcross 2025

Jane Brookes heard a cuckoo in Handcross in West Sussex.

2 May 2025