Golden Oriole on Wimbledon Common - May 24th 2023

I've walked across, through, around Wimbledon Common thousands of times over the many years I've lived or been visiting SW London.  Until this day, the most excited I'd ever been about the birds seen there were the three occasions I'd seen a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (now sadly gone from the Common).

I was returning to Wimbledon Chase via what's known as 'Caesar's Well", after a loop starting at Raynes Park Vale when I heard the distant song.  I've heard Golden Oriole numerous times abroad and once or twice in the UK, but I still doubted my ears.  Perhaps it was a Song Thrush or Blackcap with a few Oriole notes, but really, it's pretty undeniable once you know the sound.  I bee lined towards the bird, crossed two fairways and one and a half woods before I found myself under the singing bird.   I couldn't see it but I made a recording.  It sang for about 15 minutes before going silent.  I patrolled the area hoping to see it hear the bird again but received an important phone call as I was trying to find the bird which was annoying but it wasn't one I could easily end.

Well, those 15 minutes were the last I ever heard of it.  Several birders tried to find it early the next morning, and I went back mid morning but it had gone.  Luckily I had the recording.  Something to remember on the day I agreed the sale of my flat.

Golden Oriole song recorded on Wimbledon Common, London 24th May 2023


Photo taken iof a female Golden Oriole n Hungary in 2019 for illustrative purposes




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