Today’s email is #150, and I have another rare bird fitting the occasion: a Common Cuckoo. Last few days left when we are birdwatching locally, and we decided to visit a site 15 minutes away from where we are staying that is a hotspot for White Storks. Two years ago we saw a whole colony with about a dozen breeding pairs with offspring; last year we saw only empty nests, so we were keen to check again. Unfortunately, empty nests again, stork-wise. However, we stumbled upon a brownish bird, which flew away as we approached. In flight, we identified it as a Kestrel – but, strangely, it would perch very low on a fence, fencepost, or the lower branch of a tree. Helpfully, the only fence around was on both sides of the path we were taking, and we had plenty of photo opportunities. The one above is when we managed to get closest to the bird. The one above is from when we managed to get closest to the bird. Here is one with the best light, one on the other side of the fence, the funniest one, and one in flight.