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 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

Holme Bird Observatory Friday 10th April 2020

A cloudy start with south-easterly winds strengthening during the day, but pleasantly warm. A few more migrants today with a Cuckoo heard along the approach road and 2 Red Kites drifting over. The Peregrine darted over the pines and 3 Ruff were on the NWT reserve. Common Warblers were fairly numerous with 12 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers and 10 Blackcaps recorded, a Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Sedge Warblers still singing. Late morning a male Redstart was seen briefly on the east bank, while 2 Bullfinches and at least one Brambling were also noted. Two Black Swans were out on the marsh mid afternoon.

It was a good day for butterflies, with at least 4 Peacocks, an Orange Tip, male Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, and 2 Green Hairstreaks recorded. In the moth traps a Brindled Beauty, 2 Early Greys, a Shoulder-stripe, Hebrew Character, a Northern Drab, Common and Small Quakers were caught.

Brindled Beauty Moth

Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
For all this news, in the field as it happens, subscribe to Rare Bird Alert for as little as 14p per day
Norfolk Black Redstart Reepham in garden at 1.10pm
Norfolk 2.Great White Egrets Cley NWT again on Cricket Marsh at 2.30pm
Norfolk Spoonbill east of Walsey Hills NOA mid morning then flew east
Norfolk no sign of Cattle Egret Limpenhoe on grazing marsh viewed south from Well Road TG.395.031
Norfolk 5.Ring Ouzels flew south over Roydon Common NNR early a'noon
Norfolk 2.Common Cranes Roydon Common NNR at 10.49am
Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels SW of Aylmerton at Rounce's Coverts at 8am TG.170.394
Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels (1.male) Roydon Common NNR mid morning
Norfolk 3+Ring Ouzels Waxham in grass field by dunes at end of Money Lane. Y'day Firecrest Poplar Farm
Norfolk Ring Ouzel fem Roydon Common NNR still