Having spent the last 6 days on the southern edge of the Pyrenees, PJ has moved. He is now 195km (121 miles) southwest of his previous location, and is to the west of Zaragoza. Might this be the start of his big push south?
Updates from our Cuckoos
Read the latest updates from our Cuckoos on their epic migration between the UK and tropical Africa, or track their movements in real-time on our Cuckoo migration map.
- If you enjoy these updates, please consider sponsoring a Cuckoo. Sponsors receive special updates about their chosen Cuckoo in the Cuckoo e-newsletter.
PJ on the move
13 Jul 2018
PJ heading south
09 Jul 2018
PJ is in Spain - just. Around breakfast on 7 July locations from his tag showed he was in the Spanish Pyrenees, just to the north of Benasque. On his two previous migrations he launched his desert crossing from his stopover site in France, so it is interesting to see him crossing into Spain. It will also be interesting to see what he does next.
PJ has moved
03 Jul 2018
It seems that the area of farmland that PJ was using might not be giving him what he needs and he has moved back north 56km (35 miles) to the Orient Forest Regional Natural Park just to the east of Troyes.
The children of The Green Zone Bird Club at Sandown School in Kent have been following PJ’s progress closely. One of the children at the school, Che, won a Cuckoo sponsorship in the school fair and decided to share it with his fellow pupils. ‘Where in the world is PJ?’ has been a regular activity where the children learn about geography and migration. One member of the Group, Callum (age 6), has taught everyone how to zoom in and out on PJ’s position on the satellite tracking map – well done, Callum!
They have all been drawing amazing pictures of PJ to welcome him back to the UK (featured). We have really enjoyed looking at their brilliant drawings in the office and reading the Green Zone Bird Club’s newsletters. Well done to all the children in the Club and to their Outdoor Learning and Forest School Leader, Anne Collins, for all of her hard work and enthusiasm. Keep up the good work children and we hope you continue following PJ's journey as he migrates back to Africa.
PJ has left the forest
26 Jun 2018
A series of locations received from PJ's tag on the evening of 23 June showed that he was no longer in Thetford Forest, Norfolk and that he was in northern France. He is currently in Burgundy, between Carisey and Tissey, an area of farmland interspersed with fairly large tracts of woodland.
PJ still in King's Forest
20 Jun 2018
PJ has remained faithful to the northern part of King's Forest, Suffolk, since his arrival here on 17 April. Having been seen several times in this location it seems he is frequenting areas of the forest that are being used by at least one female Cuckoo that appears to be watching the breeding Tree Pipits. As we are coming close to the end of the Tree Pipit breeding season he could well begin his journey south soon.
A glimpse of PJ
09 May 2018
Our very own Paul Stancliffe, Media Manager, got a great view of PJ this morning! He's not far from our Headquarters and Paul had been out to see if could locate him in preparation for some press coverage on the project. He said: 'I found him. It was the only Cuckoo I heard and saw and he flew straight towards me, before spotting me and turning away, showing his antenna as he did!'
PJ second Cuckoo to arrive home
17 Apr 2018
Just a matter of days after our first Cuckoo returned to the UK, PJ has also made the leap from France and was back in his breeding grounds in King’s Forest, Suffolk area by the morning of the 17 April. He is earlier than in 2017 when he arrived back on 27 April.
Will PJ or Selborne be back first?
12 Apr 2018
With both PJ and Selborne in France, the bets are on as to which will be the first back to the UK. While Selborne was the first to arrive in Europe, PJ has now leap-frogged his last location and is further north and closer to home. The weather looks set to take a turn for the better this weekend so perhaps they will time their arrivals to coincide with the arrival of spring!
PJ leading the pack
09 Apr 2018
Around mid-morning on 8 April we received a couple of locations that showed PJ was in France, 1,863km (1,150 miles) north of his last location in Morocco. His last location in Morocco was at 23.21 on Friday 6 April. He is currently just north of Redon, 553km (343 miles) from Kings Forest, Suffolk where he was tagged in June 2016. It will be interesting to see how long he needs to recover before heading back to his tagging site.
PJ has crossed the desert
06 Apr 2018
Around lunctime on 6 April we received locations from PJ's tag that showed he had successfully crossed the Sahara. He is currently in Morocco just west of Meknes. It will be interesting to see how long he stays here, it could only be a few days and by early next week he may well be in Spain, resting before he completes the final leg of his journey back to the UK.
Share this page