Great Spotted Cuckoo
Clamator glandarius (Linnaeus, 1758) (3, 53)
Photo © opisska, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
STATUS
Southwestern Palearctic and sub-Saharan Africa. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
Main arrival is March and April, but two have arrived in February. Also, handfuls in each month from May to October.
Two have made it to Scotland and five in Wales with one on the Isle of Man, but the majority of English records in numerical order of occurrences have been in the South-west, South-east, Anglia and the North-east.
A paper by P. Lansdown (Brit. Birds 88: 141-149) determined that juveniles and adults are readily separable in the field, the most striking characters being the juvenile's largely bright rufous-chestnut primaries (grey-brown on adults) and the adult's pale grey crown (black on juveniles).
RECORDS
1). 1870 Northumberland Clintburn (Wark Forest), near Bellingham, first-year, shot, 5th August, now at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
(E. S. Charlton, Field 3rd Sept., 1870: 214; Eds., Zoologist 1870: 2344; Hancock, 1874; J. T. T. Reed, Naturalist 12: 76; Howse, 1899; Bolam, 1912; Witherby, 1920-24; Galloway & Meek, 1978-83; BOURC (2005), Ibis 147: 246-250).
2). 1896 Norfolk North Denes, Great Yarmouth, juvenile male, shot, 18th October, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1954Z1.756).
(J. H. Gurney, Zoologist 1897: 135; Saunders, 1899; Patterson, 1905; Witherby, 1920-24; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147; Taylor, Seago, Allard & Dorling, 1999; Dye, Fiszer & Allard, 2009; Watson, 2010).
3). 1941 Norfolk Hickling Broad, juvenile or first-year, seen, 29th July.
(J. Vincent, British Birds 35: 130; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147; Seago, 1977).
4). 1955 Meirionnydd Plas Penhelig, Aberdovey, first-year or adult, male, found dead, 1st April, now at National Museum of Wales, Cardiff (Z.1956.107).
(W. M. Condry, Nature in Wales 2: 281; BOU, 1971; Jones, 1974; Saunders, 1991; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994; Pritchard, 2012).
5). 1958 Norfolk Winterton, juvenile, picked up freshly dead, 6th August, now at Castle Museum, Norwich.
(G. A. Pyman and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 53: 167; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
6). 1959 Orkney Rendall, Mainland, juvenile, 14th to 30th August.
(E. Balfour, Scottish Birds 1: 152-153; J. W. Campbell, Scottish Birds 1: 254; G. A. Pyman and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 53: 421; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
7). 1960 Anglesey Pen-lôn, Newborough, first-year, 3rd to 15th April.
(G. F. Walton, British Birds 53: 358; G. A. Pyman and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 54: 188; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
8). 1963 Man, Isle of Ballajora, Maughold, first-year female, found dead, 12th March, now at Manx Museum.
(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 61: 360; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
9). 1967 Sussex Shripney, Bognor Regis, found dying, 4th August, now at Bognor Regis Local History Museum.
(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 61: 346; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
10). 1968 Cornwall Stithians Reservoir, first-year, 23rd April to the last week in June.
(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 62: 474; P. G. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
11). 1970 Kent Near Dungeness, juvenile or first-year, 22nd August.
(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 64: 355; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
12). 1971 Isles of Scilly Blue Carn, Salakee Down, St Mary's, first-year, 21st to 29th April.
(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 65: 338; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
13). 1971 Lincolnshire Anderby Creek, first-year, 9th May.
(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 65: 338; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
14). 1973 Cornwall Gwithian, first-year, 27th May to 1st June, photo.
(F. R. Smith and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 67: 328, plate 45; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
15). 1974 Lincolnshire Donna Nook, first-year, 1st July.
(J. N. Dymond and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 69: 363; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
16). 1977 Norfolk Cley-next-the-Sea and Salthouse, juvenile, 21st October.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 71: 510; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
17). 1978 Cornwall Porthgwarra, first-year, 28th April to 1st May.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 72: 529; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
18). 1978 Cheshire & Wirral Red Rocks, Hoylake, Wirral, juvenile or first-year, 23rd September.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 72: 529; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
19). 1979 Cornwall Pentire Head, first-year, 11th to 16th April.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 73: 514; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
20). 1979 Isles of Scilly Bryher, first-year, 13th April, photo.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 73: 515; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 85).
21). 1979 Cornwall St Just Airfield, juvenile or first-year, 12th September.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 73: 514; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
22). 1982 Cornwall Near Wadebridge, first-year, 7th April.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 76: 502; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
23). 1982 Yorkshire Near Easington, juvenile, 16th October to 6th November.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 76: 502; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
24). 1986 Isle of Wight Brighstone Bay, first-year, 26th May; same, Atherfield, 28th May.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 80: 547; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 81: 569).
25). 1989 Dorset Near St Aldhelm's Head, first-year, 11th to 12th March.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 83: 469; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
26). 1989 Kent Dungeness, juvenile, 8th July.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 83: 469; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
27). 1990 Devon Lundy, first-year, caught inside building and released, 23rd February, photo.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 84: 477; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147; P. A. Fraser and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 723).
28). 1990 Devon Dawlish Warren, first-year, 20th to 28th March, found dead 29th March, photo.
(Birding World 3 (3): 79, photo; Birding World 3 (4): 140, photo; British Birds 83: plate 298; Birding World 6 (2): 52, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 86: 496; Devon Bird Report 1990: photo; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
29). 1990 Kent Sandwich Bay, adult, found dead, 25th March, skin retained by E. Robson.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 86: 496; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
30). 1990 Sussex Shoreham-by-Sea Airport, first-year, 4th April to 1st May, photo.
(Birding World 3 (4): 140, photos; British Birds 83: plate 297; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 84: 478; R. J. Fairbank, Sussex Bird Report 1990: 89-91; Saunders, 1991: 114, photo; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
31). 1992 Norfolk Cley-next-the-Sea, juvenile, 7th July; same, Blakeney Point, 7th to 11th July, photo.
(Birding World 5 (7): 248, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 86: 496; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147; Birding World 5: 248, photo).
32). 1992 Suffolk Aldeburgh, juvenile to first-winter, 29th October to 12th November, photo.
(Birding World 5 (11): 413, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 86: 496, plates 173 & 174; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
33). 1993 Isles of Scilly St Martin's, first-year, 11th March to 1st April.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 87: 536; P. Lansdown, British Birds 88: 147).
34). 1994 Dorset Hengistbury Head, 20th April.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 88: 523).
35). 1995 Cleveland/Co. Durham Greenabella Marsh, Hargreaves Quarry and Long Drag, juvenile, 2nd to 9th July, photo.
(Birding World 8 (7): 247, photos; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 89: 509; I. Foster, County of Cleveland Bird Report 1995: 67; photo; Bowey & Newsome, 2012: photo).
36). 1998 Devon Dawlish Warren, adult, 22nd February.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 92: 584).
37). 1999 Norfolk Waxham, Sea Palling and Cart Gap area, adult, 28th March.
(Birding World 12 (3): 93, photo; Birding World 12 (4): 137, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 92: 611; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 93: 540).
38). 2000 Hampshire Keyhaven Marshes, first-summer, 2nd April; same, Pennington Marsh, 8th to 17th April, photo.
(Birding World 13 (4): 135, photos; Birding World 13 (12): 488, photo; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 93: 569, plates 139 & 140; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 94: 480; Clark, 2022, photo).
39). 2001 Kent Sandwich Bay, first-summer, 7th March, photo.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 95: 501).
40). 2001 Cornwall Land's End, first-summer, 25th March, photo, video.
(M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 95: 501; Birds in Cornwall 2001: photo).
41). 2003 Yorkshire Spurn Point, juvenile, 19th to 31st July, trapped 27th July, photo.
(Birding World 16 (7): 272, photos; Birding World 16 (12): 517, photo; British Birds 96: plate 313; Yorkshire Birding 12: 91-92; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 97: 587, plate 344; Yorkshire Rare and Scarce Birds Report 2003: photo).
42). 2005 Sussex Shoreham-by-Sea, first-summer, 3rd April; same, Worthing, 6th to 9th April, photo.
(Birding World 18 (4): 140, 141, photos; Birding World 18 (12): 506, photo; British Birds 98: plate 142; P. A. Fraser, M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 56, plate 20).
43). 2007 Kent Dungeness, first-summer, 6th to 7th March, photo.
(Birding World 20 (3): 98, photo; N. A. J. Hudson, and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 101: 551; Kent Bird Report 2007: plate 2).
44). 2009 Pembrokeshire Trefeiddan Moor, St David's, first-summer, 10th March.
(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 103: 601; J. Best, Welsh Birds 7: 160).
45). 2009 Cornwall Chapel Carn Brea, Crows-an-wra, first-summer, 22nd March; presumed same, Bartinney Downs, 1st to 6th April, photo.
(Birding World 22 (4): 139, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 103: 601; Birds in Cornwall 2009: photo).
46). 2009 Norfolk Salthouse, Kelling and Weybourne, adult, 23rd July to 5th August, photo.
(Birding World 22 (7): 271, photos; Birding World 22 (8): 318, photo; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 103: 601).
47). 2014 Pembrokeshire Tenby Golf Club, Penally, adult, 11th to 23rd March, photo.
(British Birds 107: plate 125; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 595, plate 343).
48). 2014 Devon Branscombe then Beer Head, adult, 4th April, photo.
(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 595).
49). 2014 Cornwall Kynance Cove, The Lizard, 24th April to 9th May, photo.
(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 108: 595; Birds in Cornwall 2013-14: photo).
50). 2015 East Glamorgan Cwm Cadlan NR, Penderyn, 2CY, 15th to 17th April, photo.
(N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 109: 598).
51). 2016 Dorset Portland BO: Reap Lane, 2CY, 13th May to 16th June, photo, sound recording.
(C. Holt and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 110: 590, plate 317; Dorset Bird Report 2016: photo).
52). 2019 Isle of Wight Wheelers Bay, Ventnor, 2CY+, 21st March to 18th April, photo.
(British Birds 112: plate 173; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 597, plate 347).
53). 2019 Norfolk Gramborough Hill, Salthouse and Weybourne, 2CY+, 30th April to 14th May, photo.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 597; Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report 2019: photo).
54). 2019 Argyll Iona, Mull, 2CY+, 23rd to 26th June, photo.
(J. M. Dickson, Scottish Birds 39: 278-280, plates 232-234; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 597; Argyll Bird Report 2019: photo).
55). 2021 Gloucestershire Eastcombe, 2CY+, 31st March, sound recording.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 682).
56). 2023 Suffolk Easton Farm, Southwold, 2CY, 24th March, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 682).
