While I haven't been lucky enough to find an early cuckoo, I can pass along the info that it is shaping up to be an accelerated Spring for lepidoptera (which are a main cuckoo food item).  Most butterfly observers have reported early high numbers of early species (Spring Azures, Cabbage Whites, anglewings, some moths).  I personally have already seen 8 species of butterfly, far ahead of the past 10 year average.  If this early 'bloom' is also reflected in caterpillars, it would not be surprising for cuckoos to show up early.  I've already seen several well-developed tent caterpillar tents, which is anecdotal evidence that caterpillar numbers are indeed up early.  Cuckoos are notorious 'food nomads' that often track caterpillar outbreaks, so we might want to keep our eyes peeled over the next week for these furtive birds.

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