Back in early December all seemed good with Ashok, and we were receiving steady signals from his tag as he explored the forests of central Gabon. Then, things went quiet. We often lose the signals when the Cuckoos are deep in the forests, so this in itself was not so unusual. What was unusual, however, was the signal that we received in early February which suggested he’d moved over 2,700 km (1,678 miles) east into Ethiopia!    

Now, we know enough about Cuckoos to know that this was an anomalous signal and we were certain that Ashok was actually still in the Gabon jungle. But we hadn’t received any further signals… Then, late yesterday, Ashok’s signal sprang back into life and we can now see that he has moved 680 km (423 miles) north of his wintering site in Gabon and made his way into Cameroon!        

When we last posted Arthur’s whereabouts just over a week ago, he had moved into Liberia in West Africa, over 3,000 km (1,864 miles) from where he’d spent the winter months. In the last few days, he has flown a further 300 km (186 miles) north, skirting the border with Guinea and moving back into Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). 

His next move could see him heading into southern Mali before making his big Saharan crossing. 

After a few months in Gabon, Jim has sprung into life in recent days and made his way approximately 2,200 km (1,367 miles) west into northeastern Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), passing through Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and Ghana on the way! 

His latest signal shows that he is in Comoé National Park, one of the largest protected areas in West Africa and designated a Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

After a short stay in Cameroon, Joe moved around 1,300 km (808 miles) west into Ghana in the last week. 

He is currently in an area of wooded savannah close to a stretch of the Black Volta River, east of Bui National Park. 

Sayaan is steadily making his way through Cameroon and is currently just south of the town of Bélabo, close to the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Centre. 

This sanctuary was set up to rehome illegally trafficked and held Chimpanzees while spearheading and supporting habitat protection and local conservation education programmes.

Frederic has now left the shores of Lake Mai-Ndombe and in the last four days has moved 513 km (319 miles), crossing into northern Republic of the Congo. From here he may head west straight into Cameroon, or via southern Central African Republic.     

Cuckoo Joe is making his way northwards through Cameroon, roughly following the course of the Sanaga River. Currently located between the Pangar Djerem Reserve and Mbam et Djerem National Park, Joe’s next move should see him heading into, or through, Nigeria. 

Tagged in Norfolk in summer 2022, this will be the fourth spring that we may track his incredible movements north. 

When we last posted Arthur’s whereabouts, he had made a significant move to Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). After a short stay there, he powered on, covering approximately 230 km (143 miles) and crossing the border into Liberia. He is now in a remote and densely forested region in the country’s Grand Gedeh County.

Arthur was one the new cohort of Cuckoos tagged in Suffolk in 2025. This will be the first time that we get to follow his northbound migration; so far, he is leading the pack by a considerable margin!    

Cuckoo Arthur is leading the pack, having headed into West Africa in good time. Since our last update in late January, he has continued west, sweeping across Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana, before finally making a stop in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on a journey exceeding 2,200 km (1,367 miles)! 

His latest signal places him just on the outskirts of the city of Soubré, in the south-west of the country. Will Arthur continue at this pace and be the first of our tagged Cuckoos to tackle the Sahara? Watch this space!