Cuckoo and rock pipits
I've always wanted to see a cuckoo fed by foster parents - it's one of the greatest pieces of evolutionary manipulation imaginable. My opportunity arose when a recently fledged juvenile was fed by rock pipits at Peninnis Head. The cuckoo has a characteristic white patch on its nape, and a massive red gape. It uttered high pitched begging calls, and fluttered its wings to stimulate feeding. While the foster parents responded to the cuckoo with dedicated parental care, other pipits were agitated and mobbed the falcon-like bird when it flew.
