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. Broadwater Road is currently closed and NWT Holme Dunes reserve also remain closed. We do not yet have a date for opening. NOA hopes to restore some access at its reserves later this summer, and full details will appear on this website, but as we begin to resume reserve maintenance and repairs 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 Sunday 12th April 2020

Another very mild spring day with south south-westerlies and hazy sunshine. There were signs that further migrants had arrived with a Cuckoo calling on the reserve early morning. An afternoon seawatch produced a single drake Red-breasted Merganser, 2 summer plumage Great Crested Grebes, and 14 Sandwich Terns passing offshore. Two Swallows loitered over the east bank in the afternoon and 2 Cetti's Warblers, 12 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, 20 Blackcaps, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, and 5 Sedge Warblers were recorded.

The high temperatures suited insects with 13 species of moths in the traps; these were a Light Brown Apple Moth, an Early Grey, a Double-striped Pug, 3 Powdered Quakers, 3 Hebrew Characters, 1 Pebble Prominent, 6 Small Quakers, a Common Quaker, Angle Shades, Red Chestnut, Northern Drab, Pine Beauty and a single specimen of Acleris cristana, the Tufted Button.

Butterflies included at least 7 Green Hairstreaks, Small Tortoiseshell and 4 Green-veined Whites.

A male Emperor Moth hatched from its cocoon in the Observatory building.






Top to Bottom: Pine Beauty, Angle Shades, and three stages of emergence of the Emperor male.

Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk Ring Ouzel Heacham South Beach this morning
Norfolk Short-eared Owl NE of Chedgrave still at Hardley Staithe
Norfolk Black Redstart male singing still Norwich on Westlegate at Aviva at 9am
Norfolk Ring Ouzel fem just west of Aylmerton at 8.10am
Norfolk Ring Ouzel Snettisham Coastal Park at 11.29am +3.Grasshopper Wblrs
Norfolk 2.Spoonbills Holkham Freshmarsh still
Norfolk 2.Shorelarks still Holkham Bay 500yds east of Holkham Gap at roped-off area TF.896.458
Norfolk Tree Pipit flew west over Sheringham at 7.50am
Norfolk 4.Ring Ouzels near Sheringham at 6.55am
Norfolk Cattle Egret Wormegay still in field near High Bridge
Norfolk: Woodlark Cley flew west over village at 6.57am