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

Holme Bird Observatory Friday 24th April 2020

A cooler day with some mist coming in off the sea particularly in the morning. Warm sunshine won in the end! At Thornham Harbour 40+ Brent Geese were on the saltmarsh and at the morning high tide 29 Ringed Plovers had gathered. Four Whimbrel were feeding near Staithe Lane. Four Little Terns and 6 Sandwich Terns passed offshore, and 8 Golden Plover, six in summer plumage, landed at the back of the fresh marsh. Four Ruff also coming into summer plumage were also noted on the freshmarsh together with 20+ Avocets. A Cuckoo was calling from Thornham village. A Barn Owl was hunting along the approach track and 6 Swallows passed over, with 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 14 Sedge and 2 Reed Warblers counted in the recording area, while 2 Stonechats were of note.

Moths were sparse today in the cool wind, with 2 Northern Drabs, 2 Muslins, a Powdered Quaker and Shuttle-shaped Dart. A Large Red Damselfly was at the pond and two newts were active there, with 4 Green Hairstreaks also counted.

Below: Northern Drab, Powdered Quaker and Smooth Newt





Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk Ring Ouzel Heacham South Beach this morningNorfolk Long-tailed Duck Cley flew west past beach car park
Norfolk Osprey flew west over Thornham Marsh late morning
Norfolk 2.Common Cranes flew west over Brundall at 11.40am
Norfolk 2.Common Cranes flew west over Rockland Broad late morning
Norfolk Short-eared Owl flew NE over Felmingham early morning
Norfolk Wryneck still Cley NWT by footpath then flew east of Old Woman's Lane +showing well (+Great White Egret Spoonbill)
Norfolk 2.Common Cranes Norwich flew NW over city centre
Norfolk Hen Harrier male y'day near Chedgrave flew over Langley at midday