Common Cuckoo in Santa Cruz Co. CA

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JAMAUGHN
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Common Cuckoo in Santa Cruz Co. CA

Post by JAMAUGHN »

Okay, my pictures are terrible, but this bird has been causing quite a stir in the local birding groups, so I thought I'd post it here. Apparently, the last time this bird was seen in the continental US was in 1981.

Image
Common Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Image
Common Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus by J. Maughn, on Flickr
Image
Common Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus by J. Maughn, on Flickr

I wish I could have gotten better shots, but it was a treat just to see such an unusual bird for this area. I don't know what the etiquette is for posting locality on the bird forum, so if anyone wants more info, PM me, or just Google "Cuckoo" and "Santa Cruz".

JimM
Coluber Constrictor
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Re: Common Cuckoo in Santa Cruz Co. CA

Post by Coluber Constrictor »

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nightdriver
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Re: Common Cuckoo in Santa Cruz Co. CA

Post by nightdriver »

Congrats. :beer: They show up in Alaska fairly regularly. I missed one by a few minutes back in 2000. :cry:
Keep that bird staked out, I'm going to try for it Saturday if it's seen Friday. :roll:

-nightdriver
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JAMAUGHN
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Re: Common Cuckoo in Santa Cruz Co. CA

Post by JAMAUGHN »

nightdriver-

I think there's a good chance it'll hang around a bit. It seems to be enjoying the local caterpillar population. It hasn't gone more than a few hundred yards in the past four days or so. I'll let you know if I start to hear otherwise.

JimM
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Re: Common Cuckoo in Santa Cruz Co. CA

Post by hellihooks »

It's been my experience that there are plenty of Cuckoos in Santa Cruz... :lol: :lol: :lol: jim
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JAMAUGHN
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Re: Common Cuckoo in Santa Cruz Co. CA

Post by JAMAUGHN »

Yes, that's true, Jim, but this kind eats caterpillars. Intentionally.

JimM
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