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.

Holme Bird Observatory Monday 8th July 2019

Waders were the highlight today with a total of 16 Whimbrel over west, 17 Black-tailed Godwits over lavender marsh and a Greenshank along the Broadwater calling mid afternoon. A Spoonbill was of note from the Car Park Hide and 4 Barnacle Geese of unknown origin were also seen on the Broadwater. Two Cuckoos were on the NWT reserve and a juvenile Lesser Whitethroat was among 16 trapped and ringed at the Observatory

Moth highlights were a Plain Golden Y and a True Lover's Knot caught today.



True Lover's Knot (top) and Plain Golden Y (bottom)

Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk 4.Cattle Egrets Burnham Overy Marshes by sea wall with cattle mid a'noon
Norfolk Curlew Sand Cley NWT still mid a'noon on Pat's Pool +2.Continental Black-tailed Godwits juv.Spoonbill
Norfolk Caspian Gull 2s Cromer still on pier at 3pm
Norfolk 2.BLACK-WINGED STILTS 1ml ESE of Potter Heigham still 1pm at Potter Heigham Marshes from river bank. Use car park at Lathams (£8.50 per day) +take track ENE 1ml NR29 5JE TG.436.195
Norfolk Curlew Sand Cley NWT still this a'noon on Pat's Pool
Norfolk LESSER YELLOWLEGS ad again Cley NWT east of East Bank near The Serpentine early a'noon
Norfolk no sign of ad.Lesser Yellowlegs Cley NWT on Pat's Pool (but Curlew Sand Black Tern)
Norfolk Great White Egret flew west over Cley NWT at 7.40am +Spoonbill still
Norfolk Great White Egret Woodbastwick flew over Ferry Road
Norfolk 2.BLACK-WINGED STILTS 1ml ESE of Potter Heigham still at Potter Heigham Marshes (+16.Spoonbills). Use car park at Lathams (£8.50 per day) +take track ENE 1ml NR29 5JE