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 Friday 3rd April 2020

A cool but dry day, there was a bit more activity with 3+ Red Kites and 6+ Buzzards passing overhead during the day and 2 Snipe and 2 Ruff on the grazing marsh. A Peregrine flew low over the pines and the two Cetti's Warblers were shouting at each other along the Broadwater edge. Three Pink-feet were lingering on the marsh with 200 Brents still present. A Blackcap was singing in the village. The surprise of the day, however, was the presence of a Black Swan on the Broadwater looking quite at home among the Shelduck and Greylags!

In the moth trap 2 Early Greys, a Small Quaker, Powdered Quaker and a Red Chestnut were caught.

 Early Grey Moth

 Red Chestnut

 
A Distant pic of the Black Swan!


Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk Cattle Egret Limpenhoe still in meadow by footpath TG.394.036
Norfolk Swallow flew west over Weybourne this morning
Norfolk White-tailed Eagle over Colney at 2.07pm
Norfolk White-tailed Eagle east of Norwich at Thorpe St.Andrew flew west over River Yare at 1.30pm
Norfolk Great White Egret y'day Blakeney Freshmarsh still
Norfolk 2.Great White Egrets Welney WWT still +2.Common Cranes
Norfolk Velvet Scoter y'day flew north past Hemsby
Norfolk Russian White-fronted Goose 1.5mls south of Thetford at Nunnery Lakes NR
Norfolk Sedge Warbler singing Titchwell RSPB
Norfolk Caspian Gull on Wednesday Hemsby. On Monday 74.Russian White-fronted Geese flew east
Norfolk Raven East Barsham at church at 6.23am