David Knapp let us know that he heard a cuckoo calling on the 18th December in Bressingham, near Diss in Norfolk.

Cuckoos winter in Africa having left Europe in around September and will not return until the following spring. No records exist of a cuckoo wintering in the UK so it is unlikey that what David heard was a cuckoo.

They are often confused with collared doves or wood pigeons that have a similar call or even starlings that have been known to mimic them.

However, if we receive any more reports we will record them here so do let us know if you can corroborate David’s account.

Rita Cox heard her first cuckoo of 2015 today at Lymington Marshes, Hampshire.

Catherine Wright wrote to tell us she heard her first cuckoo at 11 am when out on her yard on the farm in Welshpool, Powys.

Susan Desrosiers was thrilled to hear her first cuckoo of spring today whilst walking on Battlesbury Hill in Warminster, Wiltshire.

Alan Cantwell saw and heard his first cuckoo at 5 am today in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.

Sam Doel was walking at Yennadon Down above Burrator Reservoir in Dartmoor National Park today and heard the first cuckoo call of the year.

Mel and Tina Poke wrote to tell us that after not hearing a cuckoo in their area for a couple of years they were delighted to hear their first cuckoo on the 11th of May whilst walking near the Cotswold Distillery on Whichford Road in Stourton, Staffordshire.

Danielle Andrews Grice wrote to let us know that she heard a cuckoo repeatedly yesterday at approximately 7:45 pm in Rowney Woods, Wimbish, Essex.

Beth Harrison heard her first cuckoo of 2015 today in York. It is the first time she has heard it for several years.

Alan Hodgson hear a cuckoo in Annfield Plain, County Durham on the 11th May. He added, “It is the first cuckoo I have heard here for over 20 years.”

Dawn Hayden saw two cuckoos today and heard another in the distance on Mynydd Carmel near Y From, Gwynedd.

Joanna Rimmer wrote to tell us, “We have just heard our first cuckoo of the year in mixed woodland close to Eals, Slaggyford in Northumberland. A sound so redolent of spring! It has been several years since we heard one.”

Chris Perrin heard his first cuckoo of the year today at 5:20 pm for about 15 minutes in Croft, Lincolnshire. “Excellent!” he added.

Rosanna Perandin heard a cuckoo yesterday near her garden in Castlemorton, Worcestershire.

Val Jackman heard her first cuckoo of spring this morning at 5:00 during a very noisy dawn chorus. She lives in Pershore, Worcestershire.

Mark Cannon heard a cuckoo today on heathland at Foxhole, Cornwall.

Alan Reade heard a cuckoo today in Claverley, Shropshire.

Audrey Perry heard her first cuckoo of spring today near White Coppice Village, Chorley, Lancashire.

Karen Williams heard her first cuckoo of spring today in Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr, Conwy.

Hilary McKay wrote to tell us she heard her first cuckoo (and first house martins) today in Matlock, Derbyshire.

Zoe Smith heard her first cuckoo today in the village of Tilston, near Malpas, Cheshire.

Kerry Ellis was walking her dog this morning and heard her first cuckoo of 2015 over farmland and woods in Lindfield Sussex.

She said, “I have been waiting for the last week or so to hear and today was the day. Such a wonderful spring sound and I hope they have a good year.”

Jackie heard a cuckoo literally at 8:pm in St. Leonards on Sea, East Sussex.

She said, “he must have just arrived as hadn’t head him at all today.”

Karen heard my first cuckoo this morning at 7:00 in the Oundle area in Northamptonshire.

Sharon Potter heard a cuckoo at 8:50 this morning in Hazel Wood, West Peckham, Kent.

She commented, “It’s early for here.”

Alison Buckley heard her first cuckoo of spring this morning at Spring Cottage, Leicestershire.

Hensby heard a cuckoo today in West Harling, Norfolk.

Rossina Paris head a cuckoo today in East Tisted, Hampshire.

Des King emailed to say, “I usually hear my first cuckoo of the year sometime during the first week in May – always at the same place: Ryton Pool Country Park about 4 miles out of Leamington Spa, and actually never anywhere else. I heard it calling today; the earliest ever.”

Isobel wrote to tell us that a cuckoo flew very low over her car bonnet while she was just north of Pickering in Yorkshire.

This was her first cuckoo of 2015.

Simon Coxall heard and saw a cuckoo this morning in the meadowlands of the Chelmer River in Boreham, Essex.

Tim Stubbington heard a cuckoo in Ashford near Steep in Hampshire on the 3rd April.

He commented, “I couldn’t believe it and am open to the suggestion of a hoax of some sort, but why?”

This is not the earliest report of a cuckoo we have received; however they are sometimes confused with collared doves so it may not have been a hoax but a genuine report or a case of mistaken identity.

Peter Williams heard a cuckoo at Ramsley Reservoir near Hope Valley in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire on the morning of 18th March, a site they return to each year.

John Spokes wrote to let us know he thought he heard a cuckoo yesterday in woods near East Hanney, Oxfordshire. He is sure it wasn’t a pigeon and wondered whether it was possible.

We have had a number of early reports of cuckoos this year. A couple of people who wrote to us have since clarified that they were mistaken and although cuckoo reports are getting earlier we are still some time away from April 14th.

Sheila Roberts saw a cuckoo at 4:45 pm near Peddars Way at Harpley Dams. She said it’s really early for Norfolk.

Bryony Owen heard a cuckoo call at 8:00 am today in her garden in Wellow on the Isle of Wight. She commented that it is very early.

Another very early cuckoo. Linda Martin-Hackett wrote to tell us she heard a cuckoo in Calverton, Nottinghamshire today at about 1:30 pm.

Dean Plumridge heard his first cuckoo at his home in Ashbury, Wiltshire on February 27th at 6:30 am, again at 7:5 am and again at 4:15 pm today.

He said, “It’s the first time I have heard one hear for many years, must be 5 at least. Up until then it was every year round about April This one is so early, so lovely to hear, I gather they are generally early this year.”

Kevin wrote to tell us he had heard a cuckoo on the afternoon of the 9th February in Crynant, Neath, Port Talbot. This is very early for a cuckoo and at this time of year they are often confused with collared doves.

We asked for confirmation from the BTO who said it was unlikely. Their tracked cuckoos are still south of the Sahara. However, if anyone can corroborate Kevin’s claim we’d love to hear from you.