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.

Monday 19th October 2015

The highlight of today was a Great Grey Shrike which perched in the pines on the NOA reserve and sang! Seen around 2pm the bird had been seen briefly earlier in the afternoon and came up again to enjoy the sunshine before disappearing into the trees.

Great Grey Shrike in the pines - Holme Bird Obs, 19th October 2015 

Migration continued today with at least 120 Goldcrests still on the reserve - including one sunning itself on the bench in front of the Obs, and another 50 ringed, indicating these are still moving through the site. A flock of 18 Bearded Tits was circling high over the east bank and 4 Blackcaps were noted. 25 Blackbirds, 8 Fieldfares, 10 Song Thrushes, 25 Redwings and 40 Robins were also in the area, a Grey Wagtail flew over calling, and 5 Siskins also passed overhead. Three Barn Owls were hunting the marshes early morning.

A Humming-bird Hawk Moth was still feeding at the buddleias.

A Rough-legged Buzzard and Siberian Chiffchaff were seen at Walsey Hills.

Norfolk News from Birdnet
> Norfolk Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler Wells Woods 17:15 100yds west of drinking pool along main track by 2nd bench NR23 1DR TF909453
> Norfolk Red-throated Pipit Reported Holme Dunes NNR on path by shore near gate briefly
> Norfolk 1st Winter Isabelline Shrike (probable Daurian) W/of Beeston Regis at Beeston Common at 16:45 between layby & pond,.Park in large layby by A149 just beyond Brook Road & walk SW/ onto common NR26 8RX TG165425
> Norfolk Red-flanked Bluetail Wells Woods at 17:40 by drinking pool bt elusive NR23 1DR TF909453
> Norfolk Olive-backed Pipit Wells Woods 200yds W/of Drinking Pool at 16:45 but elusive NR23 1DR TF909453
> Norfolk Female/Immature Red-flanked Bluetail Holkham Pines at 16:55 50yds W/of crosstracks NR23 1RN TF888439
> Norfolk Blyth's Reed Warbler Wells Woods 300yds W/of Abraham's Bosom N/of main track by green bin but elusive NR23 1DR TF909453
> Norfolk Blyth's Reed Warbler Wells Woods 50yds N/of green dog waste bin in bramble scrub NR23 1DR TF909453
> Norfolk 1st Winter Isabelline Shrike Beeston Common at 13:0 between lay-by & pond NR26 8RX TG165425
> Norfolk 1st Winter Isabelline Shrike Beeston Common between lay-by & pond showing well at 12:43 NR26 8RX TG165425
> Norfolk Olive-backed Pipit Muckleburgh Hill midday on E/side
> Norfolk Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler Wells Woods by second bench along main track mid mrng NR23 1DR TF909453
> Norfolk Blyth's Reed Warbler Wells Woods 09:31 N/of main track by green dog waste bin NR23 1DR TF909453
> Norfolk Isabelline Shrike Holkham Freshmarsh at 08:44 W/of the pond TF884451
> Norfolk Red-flanked Bluetail Wells Woods 08:10 by the drinking pool. NR23 1DR TF909453
> Norfolk 1st Winter Isabelline Shrike Beeston Common by the pond showing well at 08:20 NR26 8RX TG165425
> Norfolk Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler Wells Woods 08:05 by second bench. NR23 1DR TF909453
> Norfolk Rough-legged Buzzard Salthouse this evng NR25 7XW TG082443
> Norfolk Serin Reported Kelling Water Meadows on Meadow Lane this mrng NR25 7ED TG095436
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Weybourne Camp this a/noon NR25 7SR TG111435
> Norfolk Yellow-browed Warbler Warham Greens at Garden Drove this mrng + Redstart in pit W/of Garden Drove NR23 1QD TF943437
> Norfolk Spoonbill Burnham Overy Staithe in creek at 17:20
> Norfolk Rough-legged Buzzard Hickling at Stubb Mill this mrng NR12 0BW TG437220
> Norfolk Lapland Bunting between Waxham & Winterton + 2 Common Crane, Firecrest & 2 Short-eared Owl NR12 0DZ TG440261
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Holme NOA at 16:20 in pines by the Obs TF717450
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Happisburgh early a/noon NR12 0PR TG384309
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Winterton South Dunes at 14:35 NR29 4BQ TG496198
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Strumpshaw Fen RSPB from Fen Hide at 11:30 NR13 4HS TG341066
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Kelling Heath on E/side of railway till 15:15 then flew towards garden centre TG102419
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Hickling Broad NWT 15:00 at Stubb Mill NR12 0BW TG429221
> Norfolk Juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard Walsey Hills NOA S/of E/end briefly then flew S/ + Siberian Chiffchaff & Black Redstart Cley at Old Woman's Lane NR25 7SA TG062439
> Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Holkham Pines 14:30 at N/end of lady ann's drive NR23 1RN TF888439
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Holme NOA in pines this a/noon. TF717450
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Waxham 13:45 N/of pipe dump NR12 0DZ TG440261
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Weybourne Weybourne Cap this mrng NR25 7SR TG111435
> Norfolk No Sign of Little Bunting Burnham Overy by 13:18 PE31 8JJ TF853449
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Winterton-on-Sea at 12:15 N/of village near main track
> Norfolk Great White Egret Holkham Freshmarsh 11:44 on pool by scaffolding TF884451
> Norfolk Little Bunting Burnham Overy 10:55 W/of boardwalk but mobile PE31 8JJ TF853449
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Winterton South Dunes E/of lighthouse early mrng. NR29 4BQ TG496198
> Norfolk Rough-legged Buzzard Breydon Water RSPB on North Marshes this morning + Spotted Redshank NR31 9QB TG464048
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Kelling Water Meadows at 10:00 NR25 7ED TG095436
> Norfolk Little Bunting Burnham Overy 09:20 in hawthorns in dunes by sea wall 200m from harbour but mobile PE31 8JJ TF853449
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Caister-on-Sea E/of Caister High School playing field this mrng but mobile. NR30 5HB TG527119
> Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Winterton North Dunes 300m north of totem pole this mrng NR29 4BQ TG496198
> Norfolk 2 Lapland Bunting West Runton over clifftop fields at 08:10.