One of our most spectacular summer migrants…and also one of the most frustratingly elusive. The Golden Oriole has an extensive European range, breeding from Scandinavia down to the Mediterranean and east into Asia. It returns every year from southern African wintering grounds to nest in open woodland, poplar plantations, riverside thickets and wooded parks…always favouring the leafy canopies of tall, airy trees.
The Golden Oriole is a brilliantly vivid bird. With their bright yellow bodies and jet black wings and tails the males particularly are a stunning sight…but actually getting to see them can be quite a challenge! Secretive and shy, the Golden Oriole spends much of its time hidden thick foliage, where even the tropical splendour of the male’s plumage can disappear completely in the dappled light.
It’s calls and song can be highly distinctive however, and Golden Orioles are often heard rather than seen. With a little practice the Jay-like screeching and falcon-like “gigigigigi” calls become more familiar…but its beautiful, fluting whistles are straight out of the rainforest and once heard are unmistakable. I was watching eagles at the far end of Lanjaron this morning, but on the other side of the valley Kiersten was in no doubt. Our first male Golden Oriole of the year, singing from the heart of a tree only yards away…and it still managed to remain hidden.
Fantastic to know they’ve returned though…those tropical snatches of song and glimpses of that dazzling plumage are an essential part of our birdwatching through the summer months. Now we’re faced with the considerable challenge of actually photographing them! As ever, keep checking the blogs for all the reports as we continue to update all the news…
