For the past week, a juvenile cuckoo has been seen flying around and resting in the trees at Northumberland Wildlife Trust's Hauxley Nature Reserve before beginning its migration to central Africa.

The cuckoo, a sleek, dove-sized bird with a blue-grey back, barred belly and distinctive silhouette, is often mistaken for a kestrel or sparrowhawk. Long regarded as a herald of spring, the species faces an increasingly uncertain future, with habitat loss, declining food sources and the impacts of climate change contributing to its decline.

Cuckoos arrive in Britain from Africa during March and April and usually depart by the end of July. However, since the 1990s, the UK's cuckoo population has fallen by 71%, earning the species a place on the Red List in the UK Conservation Status Report 2021, the highest category of conservation concern.

As elsewhere across the UK, cuckoos were once a common sight in the woodlands around Hauxley. Over the past decade, however, they have become much less frequent visitors. The appearance of this young bird was therefore warmly welcomed by staff and visitors alike, who were delighted to hear its famous "cuck-oo" call.

Hauxley Nature Reserve is a haven for birdlife. During 2025, a total of 157 bird species were recorded at the site, ranging from familiar birds such as rooks, song thrushes and blue tits to less commonly seen species including velvet scoters and white-billed divers.

Alex Lister, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Druridge Bay Landscapes Manager, said:

"Hauxley Reserve is a wonderful place for bird lovers, so when a bird arrives that we do not see very often, there is always a lot of excitement.

"Needless to say, when the cuckoo was first heard and then spotted, it was fantastic news. We are keeping our fingers crossed that cuckoos become more regular visitors to the site over the next few years.

"But don't just take our word for it. Come to the reserve, enjoy a walk around the site, then visit the café for a coffee and a chance to gaze out over the lake and watch the birds."