Norfolk for Oriole Birding 15th October 2025

The day began as yesterday with a spectacular display by skeins of Pink-feet headed west once again pre breakfast which lured everyone outside.  We soon headed in the other direction with Blakeney and Friary Hills being our destination and a Barred Warbler being our target passing Cattle Egrets at BOS Mill on the way.

A very pleasant few hours was spent staring at Brambles (and the marshes behind) and we had just been talking about the fact that Barred Warblers very rarely call in the UK when the tell-tale loud chattery rattle came out of the clump and subsequently a couple of very brief views were had as it flicked around but it was frustrating.

A large Tit and Goldcrest flock came and went bringing and then taking away a smart little Yellow-browed Warbler that stridently called several times just in front.  Shortly after this what we presumed was the Barred Warbler clambered up the front of the clump and after some false starts stopped where we could all see it and get the scope on it.  At this point doubts were raised.  Why wasn’t this perching bird a Garden Warbler?  And that is indeed what it was.  A valuable lesson for all and it was good to get feedback from the other birders on site.

Garden Warbler

Garden Warbler

After we left the Barred was heard again and I presume it called when it bumped into the Garden in its chosen patch.

There were plenty of other birds with many fly over finches that added a few more Bramblings amongst the Chaffinches and a smattering of Siskins too. Blackbirds dropped in and we picked up the odd Song Thrush and Redwing and a high flying Mistle Thrush too.

Frantic Mute Swan wing flapping resulted in Whooper Swan trumpeting and a low level circuit deposited one in the field in front and I think it had been pushed off a ditch by the Mute.  Sparrowhawks, Kestrels and Marsh Harriers were almost constantly on view and Ian picked up a party of Glossy Ibis dropping in and thankfully they took flight again 20 minutes later and we counted six as they moved off to Cley where they dropped down in two groups.  Moorhen and Water Rail were heard and musical Rooks and conversational Jackdaws moved between the cattle fields and the tall trees behind Friary Hills.

Whooper Swan

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis in action!

The sun even came out as we walked back and there were Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers patrolling the lee side of the hedge but the Ivy was now in fruiting mode and only a few Wasps were seeking out the last flowers.

Great Mullein

Big and low

I presume that this dark bird is an argentatus Herring Gull

Choreutis nemorana grazing on every Fig I found

A coffee and cheese, Marmite Swirl at the Two Magpies and then back in the van before a wave a drizzle hit!

East again to Cley and Walsey Hills where I smugly said that we had missed the rain only to find ourselves in a heavy shower as we walked through the Blackthorn tunnel down to the glade where the Dusky Warbler had been frequenting.  I was glad that I had played the call to the crew as we heard it in there almost immediately and although it only called now and then we could follow it around – albeit invisibly!  But we got lucky and a couple of calls and suddenly it moved up into a Willow and I think I managed to get most of the gang on to it as it flicked around before deciding that eight foot off the ground was just too scary.

Green and Goldfinches

With others waiting for a chance to get it we bailed and walked back for lunch at the van pausing to watch the Green and Goldfinches and a smart Coal Tit on the feeders on the way.  The plan had been to walk the East Bank but news that James L had found a Bluetail at Wells Wood sent us that way instead at in theory there were people on site and looking for it.  A very pale roadside Common Buzzard with a Rough-leg tail temporarily halted us but the Bluetail was unfortunately not to be and was not actually seen again after the initial sighting but it was a very pleasant spot to linger and a huge Tit and Crest flock kept everyone entertained along with several Treecreepers, tacking Blackcap and Green Woodpecker. A few Brambling moved overhead and it felt like there should have been more in there but no one found anything else despite diligent searching.

There were plenty of Dragonflies here too and a couple of Wall Browns to suggest that summer had not let autumn completely take over yet.

Back near the van a solitary Swallow hawked around the cattle and Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer could be seen out on the marsh but we were a little early for Barn Owls on the drive back and somehow managed to get home between to very wet looking weather systems after a slightly bitty but very productive day in the field.

Muntjac

This squall to the west developed very quickly!