Dartmoor cuckoos

My first ever decent cuckoo portrait back in 2022, on Dartmoor - Olympus OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 lens

Cuckoo v photographer! In fact, the telling off was not directed at me, but at a meadow pipit that had just flown in front of the cuckoo - Olympus OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 lens

Its a real privilege to watch a cuckoo being mobbed by its host species (in this case a pair of Dartmoor meadow pipits) - Olympus OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 lens.

Cuckoo flight - Olympus OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 lens

Cuckoo portrait on a misty Dartmoor morning with lovely light - Olympus OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 lens

Cuckoo finally getting the message that he is not wanted..! Dartmoor, Olympus OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 lens

Dartmoor cuckoo mid-call. Olympus OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 lens

Dartmoor cuckoo about to take off - Olympus OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 lens

Sometimes the worst weather provides the best narrative! - Olympus OM-1 + 150-400 f4.5 lens + heavy rain..

Cuckoo portrait - Olympus OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 lens

Cuckoo flight - Olympus OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 lens

One of the problems with photographing cuckoo and pipit interactions is that the two birds are rarely on the same plane of focus and this can be problem when using a wide aperture. Dartmoor, Olympus OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 lens

Cuckoo and meadow pipit stand-off - Olympus OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 lens

Dartmoor cuckoo and meadow pipit stand-off - Olympus OM-1 and 150-400 f4.5 lens