I have to confess that it hasn't taken me long to become obsessed with cuckoos again, (my favourite bird in June.) The day dawned with the prospect of the hottest day of the year forecast and I was full of anticipation, and frankly felt full of something resembling joy in the glorious sunshine  as I arrived on the moor, well before 10.  When you consider how glorious Dartmoor is on a summer's day, then it's a mystery to me  why so few people make the effort to be there, so I wasn't surprised to be the first car in the car park. I immediately heard a cuckoo calling from the thinly scattered hawthorns opposite. Now, my plan for the last 3 years has involved sitting for literally hours by likely trees and bushes that I had seen cuckoos calling from and frankly this strategy has only been partially successful.  I quickly grasped the opportunity before me. As I crossed the road, I could still hear the bird calling loudly……… but could I see it? A few steps forward and the cuckoo gave it's self away as it flew out of the tree now only a few feet in front of me. I was thrilled when it landed in the adjoining tree and I could see it  now.  I was getting my best ever views of a cuckoo! Unfortunately, the bird was still obscured by foliage and I tried to manoeuvre  for a good photo. After a minute or so it flew back to the tree where It had first been and now I managed to get the photo above! success at last.