Conditions deteriorated since yesterday with wind speeds increasing overnight and strong gusts from the north north-east throughout the day. Once again there were no butterflies or moths today. There was plenty of Marsh Harrier activity including the female with white feathers requiring a second look out over the grazing marshes, and flocks of Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler regularly coming up off the Broadwater as a result of their relentless hunting. A group of 4 Little Grebes had collected in the shelter of the reeds on the northern waters edge, and the Cetti's Warbler was still calling along the east bank though it could scarcely be heard over the wind! Over 200 Brents were still present and a small group of 8 Pink-feet were also nearby, with 4 Avocets of note and a rather sleek looking Chiffchaff began to sing near the Dell hide in the very occasional sunshine.
And they call it British Summer Time!
Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk Black Redstart fem/1w.male NW of North Walsham still at Antingham in paddocks by Southrepps Road
Norfolk Hawfinch on Wednesday flew south over Hemsby. On Tuesday Woodlark flew south
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
