Golden Oriole in Midlands?

[IanF]

Unlikely I know, but my wife has just called me with a description of a thrush sized bird with colourong that could only be a Golden Oriole - seen near Barnt Green just South of Birmingham. My request is for any other similar sightings in this area of such a bird - could it really be a Golden Oriole? I have seen (and heard) this bird on the Danube, but unfortunately was not out yesterday when my wife made this observation, and she did not have binoculars or camera with her.

Any one got any (sensible) suggestions please?

mnay thanks
IanF
(Fife, Scotland)

[darrenm]

It is possible and with a Wryneck being found in Rengents Park in London yesterday it is a reminder that scarce migrant birds can turn up just about anywhere at this time of the year.

[Gill Catton]

definitely not a green woodpecker? or was it the brightly yellow make she saw?

[Gill Catton]

Doh!! I meant to write yellow male not yellow make!!

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Doh!! I meant to write yellow male not yellow make!!

Well the males do tend to be 'made' in yellow!




Without considering escaped species, Green Woodpecker is the one confusion species that automatically springs to mind (although they could only really be confused with female Golden Orioles in flight).
It is possible that it was a Golden Oriole, which could reach the midlands - I haven't heard of many reaching other sites in the UK this spring though. If you are able to give any sort of description of the habitat/behaviour of the bird it may help, but migrants could potentially turn up anywhere.

[IanF]

Thanks for these replies, much appreciated. I don't think confusion with a Green Woodpecker is very likely - we are familiar with them, and Jennifer (who saw this bird) is familiar with most common birds. Some additional information:[list][*]my estimate of the location is - SP008752, just SE of the reservoir at Cofton Hackett near Barnt Green[*]the bird was described as having a bright yellow body with brown wings and tail and seen as it flew away along a hedgerow (several times)[*]the behaviour sounded like a wheatear, but the colouring was very distinctive and unmistakable - the body being as bright as a male yellowhammer (again we are very familiar with this species and the bird in question was larger and did not fit the description of a yellowhammer in other ways.[*]the bird was observed along a hedgerow and moved along as approached - it could only be seen flying and not whilst in the hedgerow.[*]The date of the sighting was yesterday - 30th April.[list]
I suspect this will remain a mystery unless someone else in the area is fortunate enough to spot this bird and provide some corroboration!

IanF

[ChrissyMarie]

Hi Ian....another possible contender is the Yellow Wagtail. I have seen one recently in the hedgrow with a group of yellowhammers which took me by surprise. I understand that there have also been some Channel wagtails spotted in the Midlands area which have a paler head than the norm. Just a thought....