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.

Wednesday 11th May 2016

A day of two halves, grey and damp to start, turning to glorious sunshine in the afternoon. Birds of interest during the day included a Short-eared Owl hunting over the grazing marsh late morning, a first summer Little Gull, again over the grazing marsh and a Tree Pipit briefly on the east bank. A Black Tern was present during the afternoon over the entrance track pools and up to three Common sandpipers and a Greenshank were on the Broadwater with a Pied and at least three Spotted flycatchers seen on the NWT reserve. The sunshine brought the butterflies out too, with Green Hairstreak, Small Copper, Brown Argus and Wall Brown amongst those recorded.

Short-eared Owl hunting in the late morning sun - Holme Bird Obs, May 2016

Brown Argus on the east bank - Holme Bird Obs, May 2016

Norfolk News from Birdnet
> Norfolk Richard's Pipit Weybourne NR25 7SR TG111435
> Norfolk Stone Curlew Bradwell at Weymarks track pea fields at 14:30 NR31 8QQ TG503038
> Norfolk Bee-eater Winterton 20:10 at Low Road at bottom of paddocks NR29 4BQ TG496198
> Norfolk Wryneck Reported Burnham Overy Dunes PE31 8JJ TF879455
> Norfolk 3 Temminck's Stint Titchwell RSPB on freshmarsh but elusive + 2 Little Stint & Turtle Dove PE31 8BB TF759436
> Norfolk Female Red-backed Shrike Burnham Overy at 16:25 by fence midway between Holkham Pine & boardwalk PE31 8JJ TF853449
> Norfolk 26 Dotterel S/of Choseley Drying Barns in stoney field viewed E/from minor road between Choseley & Thornham at 17:30 PE31 8PQ TF757420
> Norfolk No Further Sign of Alpine Swift flew over Framingham Earl by 16:16
> Norfolk Female Red-backed Shrike Burnham Overy Dunes on fence between pines & boardwalk mid a/noon PE31 8JJ TF879455
> Norfolk Female Red-backed Shrike Burnham Overy beside fence between boardwalk & Holkham Pines mid a/noon PE31 8JJ TF853449
> Norfolk 2 Temminck's Stint Titchwell RSPB on freshmarsh from Parrinder Hide late mrng + Little Stint PE31 8BB TF759436
> Norfolk Female Red-backed Shrike Burnham Overy Dunes at 11:40 200yds W/of Holkham Pines in bushes S/of fence PE31 8JJ TF879455
> Norfolk No Sign of Dotterel Choseley Drying Barns this mrng by 10:45 PE31 8PQ TF757420
> Norfolk Female Red-backed Shrike Burnham Overy Dunes W/of Holkham Pines in bushes S/of fence at 10:35 PE31 8JJ TF879455
> Norfolk Spoonbill Breydon Water at 10:30 NR31 9QB TG464048
> Norfolk 2 Temminck's Stint Titchwell RSPB at 07:25 from Parrinder Hide + Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper & Little Gull PE31 8BB TF759436
> Norfolk Black Tern Holme NOA over entrance track pools this a/noon TF717450
> Norfolk Pied Flycatcher Blakeney Point + 3 Redstart, Short-eared Owl & Male Whinchat NR25 7DJ TG007464
> Norfolk 2 Garganey Cley NWT at 17:30 on Simmonds' Scrape NR25 7SA TG049441
> Norfolk Female Pied Flycatcher Walsey Hills NOA at 17:25 NR25 7SA TG062439
> Norfolk 2 Garganey Felbrigg Hall NT on lake NR11 8PR
> Norfolk 3 Curlew Sandpiper Breydon Water at 15:30 on ebb tide NR31 9QB TG464048
> Norfolk Firecrest Wells Woods S/of toilet block NR23 1DR TF909453
> Norfolk Osprey flew NW/over Tasburgh at 15:35
> Norfolk Female Pied Flycatcher Walsey Hills NOA at 13:40 NR25 7SA TG062439
> Norfolk Male Firecrest Gorleston-on-Sea at Southtown Common NR31 6PL TG532036
> Norfolk Female Pied Flycatcher Walsey Hills NOA NR25 7SA TG062439
> Norfolk 3 Curlew Sandpiper Breydon Water at E/end NR31 9QB TG464048
> Norfolk Short-eared Owl Holme NOA + Little Gull & Tree Pipit TF717450
> Norfolk Curlew Sandpiper Breydon Water at east/end late mrng + Little Stint NR31 9QB TG464048
> Norfolk Whinchat Caister-on-Sea on golf course NR30 5HB TG527119
> Norfolk Spotted Redshank Holkham Freshmarsh on pool E/of Lady Ann's Drive NR23 1RN TF888439