Holme Bird Observatory (Header)

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CORONAVIRUS UPDATE – NOA RESERVES TO RE-OPEN FROM MONDAY 13TH JULY 2020

We are delighted to announce that we will be welcoming visitors back to Holme Bird Observatory from Monday 13th July 2020, and we are very much looking forward to seeing you once again. Thank you to all our members and visitors for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Please be aware that we are not yet able to restore full access.

Some restrictions must continue and these are as follows: Hempton Marsh and Walsey Hills reserves will be re-opening to visitors on 13th July, but hides on these reserves will remain closed. At Holme the following hides will remain closed for the time being: Redwell Marsh hide, Car Park hide, Sea-watching hide, Dell hide and Broadwater hide. The Bus-Stop, Dowson and Richardson hides will be accessible to one household at a time, and the viewing platform and seating area outside the cordon will be available as well, with social distancing in place. The Observatory building will also remain closed to visitors, but a member of staff will be able to come out to meet you. We do regret that for now visitors will not be able to empty moth traps with our staff, but we will retain specimens of special interest for visitors to view at a safe distance. We will continue to charge day permit fees.

We are very sorry not to offer a fuller visitor experience just yet, but these measures are for everyone's safety and we do appreciate your understanding. We will continue to review hide closures, and will post any changes on our website.

Thursday 10th September 2015

Once again hopes were high for an exciting day, with early signs of migration including a Redstart, four over flying Grey Wagtails, four Siskins, five Mistle Thrush and a Song Thrush. A Hobby was seen on several occasions over the grazing marsh and a Spoonbill flew through heading East. A Quail was a good find for one observer, flushed from the Dunes on the NWT reserve. Other birds reported in the Dunes included a probable Wryneck, Firecrest, Tree Pipit and Yellow-browed Warbler; late news from yesterday also of a Yellow-browed Warbler behind the paddocks near the payhut in the evening.

A late afternoon search of the Observatory area, the Dunes and Redwell suggested an afternoon arrival of migrants producing at least 13 Redstart, 6 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear and a Turtle Dove along the entrance track.

Four Green Sandpipers were also present on Redwell Marsh and Redstart and Pied Flycatcher were present at Walsey Hills.

Ringing produced a Sparrowhawk and 25 Meadow Pipits.


Eurasian Sparrowhawk being processed this morning, an obvious male from tarsus and wing length, the pale edging to feathers on the upperparts help age this as juvenile - Holme Bird Obs, 10th September 2015
Norfolk News from Birdnet
> Norfolk 3 Caspian Gull (1 Adult + 1 2nd Winter + 1 3rd Winter) Cley NWT this evng NR25 7SA TG049441
> Norfolk Pectoral Sandpiper Hickling Broad NWT on Rush Hill Scrape late a/noon NR12 0BW TG429221
> Norfolk White-winged Black Tern Ormesby Broad 13:15 to 13:45 viewed from A149 at Rollesby Bridge then flew S/ NR29 3LS TG463152
> Norfolk Yellow-browed Warbler Reported Holme Dunes NNR in pines + Pied Flycatcher in dunes, 3 Redstart & 3 Spotted Flycatcher
> Norfolk 8 Common Crane between Horsey & Winterton + 5 Redstart & 20 Whinchat NR29 4EP TG477228
> Norfolk Juvenile Long-tailed Skua Salthouse till 13:24 on shingle 250yds W/of of seaward end of Beach Road, then flew W/ NR25 7XW TG082443
> Norfolk Juvenile Long-tailed Skua Salthouse till 13:00 on shingle W/of of seaward end of Beach Road then flew W/ NR25 7XW TG082443
> Norfolk Yellow-browed Warbler Felbrigg Hall NT at 07:30 in deer park with tit flock NR11 8PR
> Norfolk 4 Spoonbill Burnham Norton Marsh this mrng + 4 Whinchat & 3 Wheatear PE31 8DS TF828441
> Norfolk 10 Spoonbill Stiffkey on saltmarsh E/of NT c/pk at 10:25 NR23 1QL TF975431
> Norfolk Juvenile Barred Warbler Warham Greens 08:35 at W/end of E/pit NR23 1QD TF943437
> Norfolk Spoonbill E/over Holme NOA at 08:55 TF717450
> Norfolk 6 Pied Flycatcher Holme Dunes NNR + 13 Redstart, 4 Spotted Flycatcher & Wheatear
> Norfolk Pied Flycatcher between Horsey & Winterton + 4 Redstart & 9 Whinchat
> Norfolk Whinchat Caister-on-Sea on golf course NR30 5HB TG527119
> Norfolk 2 Little Stint Titchwell RSPB this mrng PE31 8BB TF759436
> Norfolk Osprey Titchwell RSPB at 09:15 over over saltmarsh PE31 8BB TF759436
> Norfolk 2 Firecrest Winterton North Dunes + 3 Redstart NR29 4BQ TG496198
> Norfolk Pied Flycatcher Happisburgh + 2 Redstart NR12 0PR TG384309
> Norfolk Whinchat Cromer Golf Course + JUV Yellow-legged Gull on beach NR27 9HE TG219423
> Norfolk Curlew Sandpiper Breydon Water + 4 Spotted Redshank NR31 9QB TG464048
> Norfolk Pied Flycatcher Great Yarmouth Cemetery in South Section + Whinchat NR30 1DW TG526082