Norfolk for Oriole Birding 19th October 2025

A final morning walk at Holkham was the plan and we were there early enough to avoid the Sunday crowds.  The crew all headed off to use the facilities and I stood at the corner overlooking the freshmarsh. A slightly odd Coal Tit-like call caught my ear and although I have not heard one very often I recognised it as a Pallas’s Warbler but I just could not find it I the Holme Oaks.  We set off for a leisurely stroll along the inside path and before too long we had found the first of at least three Yellow-browed Warblers between there and the Bluetail Trail.  The views were actually good and prolonged and the crew were able to follow this delightful little sprite but they barely made a sound which was a little odd.

Belted Galloways - Bonnie and Galen from America who were in Mallorca with me called them 'Oreo Cows'

Finches were still on the move with the odd Redpoll and Siskin and several flocks of Crossbills but as usual none stopped.  There were small groups of Redwings and Starlings and a couple of parties of Blackbirds dropped in along with Song and Mistle Thrush.  Single Blackcap and Chiffchaff were seen and the there were several excellent Tits flocks with many zipping little Goldcrests and a few Treecreepers.  There was enough to keep everyone’s eyes and ears occupied.

Spindle

Haawthorn

Ectoedemia heringella

Red Kites were constantly peering down at us and from the Joe Jordan Hide I counted 17 across the marshes on one scan.  What a success story.   There were Buzzards and Marsh Harriers and as usual several Kestrels but with almost no water still on the marshes there were basically no wildfowl at all.  Two hind Red Deer were wading around one of the pools and the other two small species were liberally scattered across the grassland.

Red Kite

Red Kite

Red Kite

Red Deer

The local pair of Ravens paid two visits overhead and were followed by the Jackdaws which they dwarfed.  On both occasions they were completely silent which was a little odd. 

Gadwall

Raven

Raven

The sunshine in the sheltered spots held so many Common Darters and a couple of Migrant Hawkers and we added three new butterfly species with three Wall Browns and singles of Red Admiral and Speckled Wood while the wooded handrails had warming flies amongst the Darters including several very fetching Mesembrina meridiana which were indeed showing well at midday!

Mesembrina meridiana 

Common Darter

Common Darter

Wall Brown

Speckled Wood

With the morning getting away from us we started the walk back before a final lunch in the now chock-a-block Lady Anne’s Drive where we sat and watched the beautiful people with their dogs go by.

The weather was turning and rain felt like it was on the way so we bumped out past some Cattle Egrets and headed back to pick up cars at Briarfields and say our farewells after an excellent week along the Norfolk coast where the winds were for once in our favour.

A super pale Common Buzzard