Holme Bird Observatory (Header)

This is a polite reminder to all our members that our subscription rates have increased from 1st January. If you pay by standing order and have not yet done so, please amend your standing order to the new rate. More details can be found here. We are small charity reliant on the generosity of our supporters through membership subscriptions and donations. Why not become a member. For a minimum of £25 you can get all the benefits of being a member of the NOA. Just click the button on the right below. Or, if you would like to support us with a donation, it is very easy to do through our portal at VirginMoneyGiving. Just click the button on the right to go to our dedicated page. Thank you.

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.

Sunday 13th December 2015

A major improvement in the weather caused the local wildlife to breathe a sigh of relief! Highlights today were 2500 Common Scoters, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Red-throated Divers, and 14 Great Crested Grebes on the sea, a ring-tail Hen Harrier heading east towards Titchwell, Barn Owl, Kingfisher, Merlin, Peregrine, a Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechats, a Rock Pipit, 15 Twite, 10 Siskins, and 2 Snow Buntings and 3 Shorelarks on the beach.

Norfolk News from Birdnet
> Norfolk Juvenile Pallid Harrier Snettisham RSPB in bush S/of Pits TF650328
> Norfolk Juvenile Pallid Harrier Snettisham RSPB at midday TF650328
> Norfolk Juvenile Pallid Harrier Snettisham RSPB 11:20 TF650328
> Norfolk Juvenile Pallid Harrier Snettisham RSPB at 09:00 S/of pits TF650328
> Norfolk Adult Black Brant Cley NWT at dusk E/of East Bank NR25 7SA TG049441
> Norfolk Cattle Egret SW/of Sea Palling at 13:15 by Hickling Road just W/of Lound Cottages NR12 0UX TG432271
> Norfolk Rough-legged Buzzard Choseley Drying Barns PE31 8PQ TF757420
> Norfolk Juvenile Iceland Gull NNW/of King's Lynn at 15:13 just E/of River Great Ouse by Cross Bank Road at Fisher Fleet showing well PE30 2QA TF631204
> Norfolk Common Crane Billockby at 14:50 E/of main road
> Norfolk Adult Black Brant Cley NWT in Eye Field + Pale-bellied Brent Goose NR25 7SA TG049441
> Norfolk Juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard Snettisham RSPB at 12:30 on saltmarsh from S/end + 2 Waxwing TF650328
> Norfolk 3 Common Crane Horsey at Horsey Mill mid mrng NR29 4EP TG477228
> Norfolk Great White Egret Snettisham RSPB + Ringtail Hen Harrier TF650328
> Norfolk Richard's Pipit Holkham Pines flew towards the beach NR23 1RN TF888439
> Norfolk 3 Shorelark Holme Dunes NNR 09:35 on shingle bar at E/end of beach
> Norfolk 82 Eurasian White-fronted Goose Cantley Marshes RSPB TG378039
> Norfolk 4 Hen Harrier Warham Greens in the roost. NR23 1QD TF943437
> Norfolk 2 Ringtail Hen Harrier Roydon Common NWT
> Norfolk 59 Eurasian White-fronted Goose Holkham Pines by road NR23 1RN TF888439
> Norfolk Great Northern Diver Stiffkey Fen off Far Point NR23 1QW TF990438
> Norfolk Golden Pheasant Wolferton Triangle at 14:00 on road PE35 6EJ TF672278
> Norfolk Red-necked Grebe Brancaster Staithe in harbour PE31 8BJ TF794442
> Norfolk Great Northern Diver Martham Broad on river e/of fishing pools by windmill NR29 4DJ TG459202
> Norfolk Drake Long-tailed Duck Titchwell RSPB offshore PE31 8BB TF759436
> Norfolk Ringtail Hen Harrier Horsey Mere at 13:00 TG456223
> Norfolk Shag Wells this a/noon. NR23 1AR TF917437
> Norfolk 3 Spotted Redshank Breydon Water NR31 9QB TG464048
> Norfolk Water Pipit Cley NWT from Bishop Hide this mrng NR25 7SA TG049441
> Norfolk 22 Bewick's Swan Ludham Airfield + 12 Whooper Swan
> Norfolk 2 Waxwing Snettisham RSPB + Spoonbill TF650328
> Norfolk Slavonian Grebe Snettisham RSPB offshore at 10:35 TF650328
> Norfolk 2 Water Pipit Titchwell RSPB + 4 Spotted Redshank PE31 8BB TF759436
> Norfolk 3 Velvet Scoter Titchwell RSPB PE31 8BB TF759436
> Norfolk 2 Spotted Redshank Titchwell RSPB PE31 8BB TF759436
> Norfolk Waxwing over Burnham Market at 08:40 TF823408
> Norfolk Golden Pheasant Wolferton Triangle at 08:39 by 'give way' sign PE35 6EJ TF672278
> Norfolk 14 Twite Thornham Harbour at 07:50 just W/of the c/p TF728441 TF728441