Yesterday morning was simply one of those special days that come along from time to time. I went out to Dartmoor to continue my search for the species, it's a short window and in less than a month, males will already be on migration back to Africa. Cuckoos are territorial but easily (usually that is) disturbed.  One male bird that I know well is a little different and a bit more tolerant of people, but never the less will usually leave his territory if threatened. I heard him calling and took up position behind a wall and I was getting the best views ever of this bird that is almost mystical in it's appeal, even by non-birding people. The reason for his almost tolerance was food!  He was perching to exposed perches in either 1 of 3 trees. As he perched he was looking down to the ground intently.  I have seen Kingfishers "bobbing" slightly just before they dive for prey.  This is thought to be the way they asses the distance to their prey. Our cuckoo was doing this little bob before he descended down to the grass to grab a caterpillar .

 I saw him do this at least 2 dozen times and it turned in to an amazing spectacle.He could see his prey from quite a distance, often even as far as 40 feet.  He would glide down and then pick up the caterpillar  before flying spectacularly back to his perch.  I was fascinated and excited and decided to get as many "in-flight" shots as I could. This turned out to be easier than I thought it would be.  I literally focused on the bird on the ground and as he then started his flight back up to his perch, snapped off as many shots as I could. Eventually I managed to get it right and freeze the action by using a really fast shutter speed. 

Getting a good portrait was hard because he was usually just a tad too far, or silhouetted against the sky, but from time to time he showed really well.  Meadow Pipits were a nuisance to him and repeatedly mobbed and pestered him which usually caused him to fly to another perch.