With the wind strengthening in the north east overnight and during the day, conditions for migration could hardly have been poorer, and this was reflected in a very dull census. A suspicious increase in both Porchard (7) and Tufted Duck (11) on the Broadwater suggested they'd either been hiding or that a few more had arrived, and a single Redwing was in the pines in the morning. A male Blackcap was near the Heligoland trap, while offshore little was evident but 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great Crested Grebe were just on the edge of the waves. Cetti's Warbler and Chiffchaff again made themselves heard, with a Tawny Owl calling in the village at first light.
There were no moths or butterflies today, but a couple of the fat bumble bees were still making an effort.
Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk Great White Egret y'day Hingham still at Seamere Fen north of Deopham Road at 6.40pm
Norfolk Great White Egret on Wednesday Nar Valley Fisheries
Norfolk Common Scoter flew over Brundall overnight [identified from sound recording]
Norfolk Cuckoo singing Methwold at 6am
Holme Bird Observatory (Header)
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CORONAVIRUS UPDATE – NOA RESERVES REMAIN CLOSED AT PRESENT All NOA reserves remain closed at present, and following the lifting of some restrictions in England we would ask our members, visitors and volunteers to be patient while this situation continues. We are still some way from being able to provide a COVID secure environment for our staff and visitors, and any changes must be gradual, cautious and enable social distancing. Broadwater Road is currently closed, and the Beach Road Car Park is also closed. We would advise that parking and toilet facilities are not yet widely available. NWT Holme Dunes, Titchwell and Snettisham RSPB reserves also remain closed, and do not yet have a date for opening their car parks and other visitor facilities. Please also bear in mind that we are now in the middle of the breeding season. Birds which have been nesting undisturbed while visitors have stayed away need this situation to continue until their young have fledged. For similar reasons affecting land managers along the North Norfolk Coast AONB, their Re-opening the Norfolk Coast Working Group is asking people not to visit at this time until organisations have had a chance to put safety measures in place for social distancing and reopen provision such as toilets and car parks. Announcements will be made by individual organisations and businesses when this is the case, so please check before you travel, and don’t come at present. NOA hopes to offer some form of access at its reserves later this summer, but it could still be some weeks away and will remain limited while we find our ‘new normal’. Please bear with us, and we thank you again for your understanding and support
