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: The NOA would like to reassure members and supporters that it has taken serious steps to align itself with government restrictions to help with the control of Coronavirus. We have taken the decision to close all our reserves, including Holme Bird Observatory, to visitors and volunteers until further notice. We are truly sorry to have to shut these sites, but in these challenging times we really have no alternative. It is intended that NOA will continue to have a single staff member present at the Observatory on most days, in order to care for the site, and to attend to administrative issues. We also hope to be able to monitor wildlife at the Observatory and to post sightings on our blog. Should any of you living within the Observatory’s recording area see anything of interest, then we’d love to hear from you by phone or email on 01485 525406 and at info@noa.org.uk. We thank you for your understanding and hope that all our members and visitors stay safe and well, until we can restore normal opportunities for enjoying wildlife once again. We are truly grateful for your continued support.

Tuesday 23rd January 2018

An early morning sea-watch produced a count of 32 Great -crested Grebes on the sea. Large numbers of Teal and Wigeon remained around the Broadwater, at least a thousand birds, with a small arrival of around 200 Pink-feet joining them mid afternoon. Two Peregrines were hunting over the grazing marsh and a pair of Stonechats were along the East bank. The flock of 22 Twite were again at Thornham Harbour. There was no sign of the Waxwing but the Fieldfares remained around the Buckthorn areas on the reserves.

Fieldfare on the Buckthorn. Gary Elton

Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERTFor all this news, in the field as it happens, subscribe to Rare Bird Alert for as little as 14p per day
Norfolk Glaucous Gull juv Salthouse flew west past north end of Beach Road at 2.20pm
Norfolk 50+Snow Buntings Salthouse still at Gramborough Hill this a'noon
Norfolk no sign of any Bewick's Swans between Ingham +Sea Palling behind Causeway Farm Butchers this a'noon but 6.Whooper Swans
Norfolk COUES'S ARCTIC REDPOLL 1ml W.of Holt still just S.of Letheringsett 100yds from ford at 12.40pm tho mobile. From A148 take Riverside Rd signed Letheringsett Mill +park on verge just before ford +view from start of track TG.062.383
Norfolk Great White Egret west of Norwich flew over A47 Norwich bypass by River Yare early a'noon
Norfolk 4.Waxwings Gorleston near Beacon Park at Carrel Road this a'noon then flew towards hospital
Norfolk Great White Egret Holkham NNR still from Washington Hide at 12.45pm +Bittern
Norfolk 2.Waxwings Gorleston at Beacon Park then flew to trees south of Carrel Road
Norfolk 9.Shorelarks Holkham Bay still 12.10pm on saltmarsh 1/2ml east of Holkham Gap
Norfolk 11.Russian White-fronted Geese Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Norfolk 11.Bewick's Swans between Ingham +Sea Palling behind Causeway Farm Butchers at 10.45am
Norfolk Iceland Gull juv Cromer still on east side of golf course on practice green near church at 11.45am
Norfolk 9.Shorelarks Holkham Bay still on saltmarsh 1/2ml east of Holkham Gap at 11am
Norfolk Velvet Scoter Titchwell RSPB still +6.Long-tailed Ducks Spotted Redshank
Norfolk Hen Harrier male Cranwich Heath at 10.56am
Norfolk 22.Twite Thornham Harbour still 10.48am
Norfolk 10.Hawfinches Great Massingham at churchyard
Norfolk Black Redstart ad.male still Sheringham at RNLI car park at 9.55am +showing well TG.155.434
Norfolk Glaucous Gull juv Mundesley still on beach below car park at 10.12am