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 Saturday 18th April 2020

Some welcome light rain this morning between 7 and 9.30, and the day remained cloudy with a lessening north-easterly breeze. On the sea today a 30 minute watch produced 3 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Fulmars, an adult Gannet west and 6 Sandwich Terns passing eastwards. At least 52 Brent Geese were also moving between the marshes and shore, with 3 Wigeon and 3 Teal still around the Broadwater, and a Ruff flying east over Thornham Bank. A Cuckoo was calling near the Golf Course and 3 Swallows were noted in the village, with a Cetti's Warbler, 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 6 Sedge Warblers recorded.

In the moth traps a Grey Shoulder-Knot, Muslin and Small Quaker were of interest and another male Emperor hatched during the afternoon. No butterflies today despite the eventual warming of the reserve mid afternoon.

Grey Shoulder-Knot



Muslin Moth

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Norfolk Great White Egret Cley NWT still by East Bank. 1w.Spoonbill flew over West Bank
Norfolk Great White Egret Blakeney Freshmarsh still this morning
Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels (both males) just east of Morston in horse paddock