The Early Bird ...

["Dam Lamb" <>]

Laurie,
          I'd be pretty sure the article refers to the (common) Cuckoo of
Western Europe, Cuculus canorus. My European and Britain field guide
(Peterson, Mountfort & Hollom) gives the Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator
glandarius) as "accidental"  in the British Isles, and the Yellow-billed
Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) as "occasional, or very rare".
          The general context of the article points to (common) Cuckoo
Russ Lamb, Maleny, SEQ