Cuach Torc

Cuach Torc's movements

14 Apr 2025 - Time out for Cuach Torc

Cuach Torc defied expectations by engaging in some rather unexpected autumn migratory manoeuvres in Europe (see his earlier posts for details!), finally arriving south of the Sahara in early November.

We last heard from him from his position in north-east Gabon, close to the border with Republic of the Congo on 19 December.

Regarding the Cuckoos who we have not heard from for a while, it may be that they are still alive but there is an issue with their tags and we are simply not receiving signals. However, it is normal for birds die in the course of their long migrations, on their breeding grounds, or in their wintering quarters. While we will rarely know what did really happen to these individuals, the incredible information that they provide is invaluable in helping us to understand the extraordinary lives of UK breeding Cuckoos.

05 Nov 2024 - Cuach Torc finally arrives in Africa!

Cuach Torc initially made good progress and by mid-July was in southern Greece. He then inexplicably returned to western Europe, which included a protracted and unexpected stay in northern Germany. After a lot of false starts, he finally headed south again, crossed the Mediterranean and then left Algeria on 30 October.

He then flew 2,567 km (1,595 miles) to southern Niger, close to the Nigerian border, arriving just after midnight on 3 November.

By contrast, on his autumn migration in 2023 he’d made it to Sudan by 3 August – what caused his long delay this time? 

23 Sep 2024 - Torc walks the walk

Cuach Torc finally seems to have come to his senses after his lengthy, unscheduled visit to northern Germany, and now appears to be heading south once more.

In recent days he left an area just north of Leipzig, flew down past Frankfurt and entered French airspace through the North Vosges Regional National Park before proceeding to Dijon, covering some 768km (477 miles). Hopefully he is fully rested, fed, and in good shape to continue south to make a swift Mediterranean crossing.    

13 Sep 2024 - Torc treks north

Torc has certainly had us scratching our heads a little in recent weeks. By mid July he looked poised to cross the Mediterranean from his position in southern Greece, but since then he has headed back north through the Balkans and into central Europe.

For some reason, he is now in Saxony, western Germany, approximately 53 km (32 miles) north of Leipzig. We just hope that he can find enough food to fatten himself up for a journey south soon.   

By this time last year Cuach Torc had already been on the other side of the Sahara for around six weeks, having crossed the Mediterranean in late July. What will he do next?   

06 Sep 2024 - Torc Czechs in

After trying Croatia, Greece, Albania and Bosnia & Herzegovinia, new signals received from Torc's tag last night showed that he had flown 740 km (460 miles) north to the Czech Republic.

He is now near the town of Holýšov, in the Plzeň Region of western Czech Republic.

Past updates from cuach torc