Desperately searching for Golden Orioles !!! (1 Viewer)

[tehri]

I love this bird, it fascinates me, has an extraordinary effect on me, lol !!
I spent part of my life in India and already admired orioles so many times... I once even took a trip of several months specifically to devote myself only to this ! (Black Hooded Oriole, Black Naped Oriole, Indian Golden Oriole).
Also my question, the help that some here will be able to give me is very simple, and I will try to keep it short !... I live in France where the Golden Oriole stays for a few months a year, but is hard to see for long enough, being very stealthy, and the summer canopy does not make observation easy ! You must be pretty lucky ! Some sometimes stays in my district, but where, I don't know... I've been contacting the local Bird Protection League for 2 years, and no one has ever been able to answer me.

Also, now, I'm really fed up, frustrated, and really want to see this wonderful feathered friend again ! Some people dream of distant cruises, winning the lottery, buying a sports car, etc. etc. All I would like for my happiness is to be able to observe a few orioles, nothing more, nothing less !
I would know where to go in India... there, even just on the outskirts of a small town, with forest around, you can easily see orioles landing on electrical wires, telephone lines, poles, easy to admire all day long !... But I don't want to go so far for just 5 or 6 days, when it is possible here in Europe or just around, to be able to do that.

Here in France, oriole are not sedentary and will soon start moving, even if as @Frank van Drogen briefly confirmed to me, it is still clearly visible around its home in Allier, which is already a precious good track for me !! (Köyceğiz & Mugla area - SW Turkey).

What I would like to know, my friends, is if some of you could tell me precisely a place to go, to stay for a few days, and where I can definitely spend time easily observing orioles !!... A few places where I would be sure, 100% sure, to see some ! I don't know, in Spain, Turkey, Portugal, etc., not very far, but precise locations !!
Could some of you help me in this quest please ?....
Thx +++ !!

 

[Bewick]

What part of France are you from? I spend my summers in Charente and observing orioles has not been a difficult task. I've spent about two weeks in France this summer and have 14 observations of orioles in my area.

You really do have to listen for their song, the juv's also have a pretty unique begging call which sounds like a higher pitched corvid call. Follow the call, it's sometimes better to just walk the edges of forests as they usually located in canopy of trees and are usually more easily observed from the edges of forested areas.

Also while walking beside forested areas always keep an eye out for birds flying above the canopy, this method has also resulted in a lot of successful oriole finds.

Edit- Added picture of my most recent observation.

 

[foresttwitcher]

I heard them daily in a week in Poland in mid-May (both in Biebrza & Bialowieza National Parks) and saw them probably on about 30% of these occasions. As Bewick said the song/call is key, along with luck and patience - I don't believe it is possible to give exact locations unless someone is lucky enough to know of an active nest site early next spring to give you a 'heads up'.

 

[Merlin]

I love this bird, it fascinates me, has an extraordinary effect on me, lol !!
I spent part of my life in India and already admired orioles so many times... I once even took a trip of several months specifically to devote myself only to this ! (Black Hooded Oriole, Black Naped Oriole, Indian Golden Oriole).
Also my question, the help that some here will be able to give me is very simple, and I will try to keep it short !... I live in France where the Golden Oriole stays for a few months a year, but is hard to see for long enough, being very stealthy, and the summer canopy does not make observation easy ! You must be pretty lucky ! Some sometimes stays in my district, but where, I don't know... I've been contacting the local Bird Protection League for 2 years, and no one has ever been able to answer me.

Also, now, I'm really fed up, frustrated, and really want to see this wonderful feathered friend again ! Some people dream of distant cruises, winning the lottery, buying a sports car, etc. etc. All I would like for my happiness is to be able to observe a few orioles, nothing more, nothing less !
I would know where to go in India... there, even just on the outskirts of a small town, with forest around, you can easily see orioles landing on electrical wires, telephone lines, poles, easy to admire all day long !... But I don't want to go so far for just 5 or 6 days, when it is possible here in Europe or just around, to be able to do that.

Here in France, oriole are not sedentary and will soon start moving, even if as @Frank van Drogen briefly confirmed to me, it is still clearly visible around its home in Allier, which is already a precious good track for me !! (Köyceğiz & Mugla area - SW Turkey).

What I would like to know, my friends, is if some of you could tell me precisely a place to go, to stay for a few days, and where I can definitely spend time easily observing orioles !!... A few places where I would be sure, 100% sure, to see some ! I don't know, in Spain, Turkey, Portugal, etc., not very far, but precise locations !!
Could some of you help me in this quest please ?....
Thx +++ !!

View attachment 1592277

Tehri
As Bewick asks, where are you in France?

Having lived in France and travelled throughout so many times I have always found Orioles to be 'generally' widespread. Obviously being a migrant they are only present for spring and summer, however France is blessed with so many poplar plantations which they would normally prefer.
Even travelling close to Calais and stopping enroute in a motorway rest area, if there are poplars close by then often you can hear and see Orioles.
The call is wonderful , distinctive and unforgettable.
Good luck.
Merlin

 

[tehri]

Thanks for your words, buddies... very busy for 2 days... will give some words later today !! 😉
Btw, living in Haute-Marne.

 

[Richard Prior]

Plenty of Golden Oriole observations in Haute-Marne, no need for you to fly off to distant shores for the species!

Résultat de la recherche - www.faune-aura.org

www.faune-aura.org

 

[jurek]

There are plenty of them all along the Rhine, but you should have them close to home, too. Listen to their call, both the fluting song and the high screech. They are usually seen in flight, when, surprisingly, colors are not well visible. I think of a Golden Oriole as a shape of a starling, but the fluid flapping flight of a thrush. They also quite often perch on some dead branch, when males color can be admired.

 

[Merlin]

Thanks for your words, buddies... very busy for 2 days... will give some words later today !! 😉
Btw, living in Haute-Marne.
View attachment 1592556

Tehri

As Richard and jurek have said this is a good area for Golden Oriole, find some poplar plantations and have a good listen, despite their plumage they are not always obvious and jurek's comments are very accurate, but keep looking!
Sadly due to my age my hearing (like every thing else) is not so good now, but the Golden Oriole call is in my soul and I can find them and I'm sure you can as well.
Good luck.

regards
Merlin

 

[tehri]

First of all, thank you very much to BirdForum, once again, to the community, You, buddies, for always being there and answering all questions and requests for information !! Thx +++ !! 🥰👍

I learned a lot here, thanks to this thread and the previous one I mentioned ! My problem is not that I don't know the Oriole, its song, its flight, its preferences, etc etc... I have 'studied' it a lot, observed it, admired it a lot... in India.
My problem is (was) that in my district, I didn't know where to go, knowing that it could be present at this time ! You're exaggerating just a little, Richard, 😉, when you mention "Plenty of Golden Oriole observations in Haute-Marne" (cf.map)... But for sure, you're right, the bird is there, confirmed by a few observations... I knew that, but without having any leads, it's difficult in an area of 6,200 km².

You are not only right, Richard, but I must really thank you for the “faune-france.org” link, which made me change all my plans yesterday morning !!!!
In fact, I am not like many here, what is commonly called "A Birder", but a nature lover, and therefore did not really know these specialized sites (except xeno-canto) like “faune-france.org”, or "E-bird" (Thx, @angusmcoatup, Paul !! 😉)...
What surprises me a lot is that, as I mentioned before, in 2022 and 2023 I called the local branches of the LPO France (equivalent of the RSPB), and that none of the officials I spoke to, directed me to “faune-france.org”, instead of answering me: “oh no, I am not aware of any oriole sightings” !!!! Shame on them, while the “faune-france” project is supported, developed, by the LPO !!

Frank van Drogen (whom I also thank very much !!! 😉) told me a few days ago: "I see them here in the Allier (cf.map) quite regularly. Yesterday three in one tree with some dead branches, two more a bit more hidden in an oak. This morning, one singing/calling for 15 minutes in the same dead tree.", and after a few exchanges in PM sent me the GPS coordinates etc... And at the time you posted, Richard, I was looking for Airbnb, and getting ready to go down to Allier for a few days !
But “faune-france.org”, at least for the moment, changes my plans, because I learn that Golden Orioles are observed very close to my home, in another valley... 20 km from my home !!! ! Ahahaha !!! 😛... and another, last Sunday at 50 km !!! Also, before going down to Allier, which is not very far (~320 kms), my quest now becomes much more fun by looking for the 'winged treasure' here, first locally !!!

Sorry, I'm just too talkative, especially when it comes to the Golden Orioles !! I'll stop here for now, and of course will give you feedback !!!!
Thx, Buddies !! Enjoy your day ! 👍

 

[jurek]

in 2022 and 2023 I called the local branches of the LPO France (equivalent of the RSPB), and that none of the officials I spoke to, directed me to “faune-france.org”

It is normal that there are different organizations, many not interested in birding as seeing birds for pleasure.You know already faune-france.org, ebird.org and xeno-canto. Try to find if there are birding groups and Whatsapp groups for birders / naturalists in your region.

 

[jurek]

My problem is not that I don't know the Oriole, its song, its flight, its preferences, etc etc... I have 'studied' it a lot, observed it, admired it a lot... in India.

Like with most birds, it is available at many places online, including the ebird.org species vitrine.

Golden oriole is a low-density bird of tall, dense tree canopies. It is described as fond of forests and patches of trees, especially poplars, near rivers and streams, and secondarily other mature broad-leaved forests. However, I seen them also in pure pine forests.

It is a low density bird. It means that you best find on a Google maps a large area of broad-leaved forest or riverine forest patches near your home. A typical central French river flanked with pastures and clumps and lines of tall poplars would be good. Plan a long, relaxed walk or maybe a bicycle ride covering it. Hope to hear the Golden Orioles calling and then patiently follow the call to see one. If you are not familiar with bird calls, take them on your mobile.

I don't think that it makes sense to travel overnight to see it - it is so widespread that you better track your own nearby than waste time traveling.

 

[kb57]

If you don't have any luck close to home (and the tall poplar plantations they inhabit don't make it easy...) I would try Portugal, where they are frequently found in lower stature riparian trees such as narrow-leaved ash or willows. Although still not easy to see all the time, I've had much better luck here compared to Northern Europe.

I haven't visited for a few years, but possibly the best site of all is the village of Alcoutim in the Guadiana valley, NE Algarve. There's a bridge on the north side of the village where you can look down on the riparian trees and see golden orioles with relative ease.

 

[Fred K]

Hi Tehri,

My two cent: Parque Monfragüe, Extremadura, Spain. I remember observing a male golden oriole in the open (low bushes) chasing insects in April-May.

Closer to you, if ever you go to Île de France: Parc du Sénart, Essonnes. Enter the park from Soisy-sur-Seine. After walking for 20 minutes towards the North-East, you might start hearing golden orioles. Seeing them is another matter.

 

[tehri]

Finally found, yesterday morning, my sacred Grail, my Unicorn !!!!... 🙏
A hell of a shock that left me stunned all day, until before falling asleep, my eyes and head still full of this vision !!
And again a big thank you, Richard, for directing me to “faune-france.org”, which changed everything !! A complete mystery that I had not known about this gold mine before, and really a gross error of the 3 LPO representatives that I had on the phone these last 2 years, for never having informed me of the existence of the site !!
In my valley, guys, believe me, no Golden Orioles !! I would know, I would have seen and heard it a long time ago, 100% certain !
Also, out of the 5 times it was observed in Haute-Marne in July, it was 3 times around a village 20km from mine. I went there for the first time on Saturday, but in the middle of the afternoon, very hot, and not really the best time... And back there yesterday morning, a little before 7:00.

Really a beautiful place, a beautiful village, a river crossing it, many beautiful trees, and many poplars... Observed quite a few birds perched, flying, singing, 2 foxes, 2 deer, but no Orioles heard or seen. Around 9:00 am, the sun starting to be hot I was thinking about leaving, when the Magic Bird began to sing, to make itself heard and recognized among a thousand... A shiver all over me, on total alert, trying to see it around my house for years !!
I was on a small path, on the right a small meadow along the river lined with poplars, and on the left dense foliage rising up lit by a beautiful and fresh morning light... Walking slowly, step by step, listening to him, eyes everywhere, when just about 15m away, he comes to land, appears on a mossy and sunny branch !!... A shock for me, a real shock of pleasure, of pure Bliss !!!!!! Finally I come across him here, at my place !!

OOhhh it was short-lived, but it doesn't matter, it's engraved in me, and in my NL's, lol, and I'll see it again ! It landed, saw me, looked at me for 2s, and when I raised the binoculars to my eyes, the lenses saw a big bright yellow light fly away in the shadows... I stayed another hour, but no more singing, nothing more.

As I said before, 5 sightings reported in Haute-Marne in July, (6 with mine now !! 😛) but hundreds over the same period in other departments, such as Allier or others... And often not just one Golden Orioles, but 3, 4, or 5 together ! I will think in August about going a little further south or not, one problem being that the weather is getting scorching, and I can't stand the heat !... But otherwise, now that I know how to operate, I will do it earlier next year... if not in India !
Anyway, buddies, I am a happy man !!! ahaha !!!! Really happy !!!
THX !!! 👍


Just here a small GIF roughly and quickly made with the photo of the place where he landed, to illustrate this brief encounter, its timing...

 

[Merlin]

Finally found, yesterday morning, my sacred Grail, my Unicorn !!!!... 🙏
A hell of a shock that left me stunned all day, until before falling asleep, my eyes and head still full of this vision !!
And again a big thank you, Richard, for directing me to “faune-france.org”, which changed everything !! A complete mystery that I had not known about this gold mine before, and really a gross error of the 3 LPO representatives that I had on the phone these last 2 years, for never having informed me of the existence of the site !!
In my valley, guys, believe me, no Golden Orioles !! I would know, I would have seen and heard it a long time ago, 100% certain !
Also, out of the 5 times it was observed in Haute-Marne in July, it was 3 times around a village 20km from mine. I went there for the first time on Saturday, but in the middle of the afternoon, very hot, and not really the best time... And back there yesterday morning, a little before 7:00.

Really a beautiful place, a beautiful village, a river crossing it, many beautiful trees, and many poplars... Observed quite a few birds perched, flying, singing, 2 foxes, 2 deer, but no Orioles heard or seen. Around 9:00 am, the sun starting to be hot I was thinking about leaving, when the Magic Bird began to sing, to make itself heard and recognized among a thousand... A shiver all over me, on total alert, trying to see it around my house for years !!
I was on a small path, on the right a small meadow along the river lined with poplars, and on the left dense foliage rising up lit by a beautiful and fresh morning light... Walking slowly, step by step, listening to him, eyes everywhere, when just about 15m away, he comes to land, appears on a mossy and sunny branch !!... A shock for me, a real shock of pleasure, of pure Bliss !!!!!! Finally I come across him here, at my place !!

OOhhh it was short-lived, but it doesn't matter, it's engraved in me, and in my NL's, lol, and I'll see it again ! It landed, saw me, looked at me for 2s, and when I raised the binoculars to my eyes, the lenses saw a big bright yellow light fly away in the shadows... I stayed another hour, but no more singing, nothing more.

As I said before, 5 sightings reported in Haute-Marne in July, (6 with mine now !! 😛) but hundreds over the same period in other departments, such as Allier or others... And often not just one Golden Orioles, but 3, 4, or 5 together ! I will think in August about going a little further south or not, one problem being that the weather is getting scorching, and I can't stand the heat !... But otherwise, now that I know how to operate, I will do it earlier next year... if not in India !
Anyway, buddies, I am a happy man !!! ahaha !!!! Really happy !!!
THX !!! 👍


Just here a small GIF roughly and quickly made with the photo of the place where he landed, to illustrate this brief encounter, its timing...

View attachment 1593878

Well done tehri, really pleased for you, please can you send a couple to the UK for me?


regards
Merlin