Evening birdwatching: cuckoos and woodlarks under a pastel sunset

A nature observer shares a peaceful late evening outdoors, watching birds sing under a colourful cloudy sky. Cuckoos called frequently, with female trills provoking excited responses from males. Many songbirds appeared to be busy parents tending their first broods, making their singing intermittent.

Last weekend brought a quietly spectacular evening for birdwatchers, as a light veil of cloud painted the sky first in pastel yellows and then soft pinks as the sun dipped below the horizon. In complete calm, with not even the faintest breeze, birds across the landscape launched into song.

Many of the singing birds appeared to be occupied parents — likely in the middle of raising their first brood of the season — which gave their performances a somewhat fragmented, interrupted quality. Despite this, the chorus was rich and layered, filling the still evening air.

Cuckoos have been particularly vocal this year. Their familiar calls have rung out repeatedly, and the trilling calls of female cuckoos have also been heard — a sound that reliably sends nearby males into a frenzy of excited, agitated response.