Another dry and sunny spring day with a increasing easterly breeze, but rather quiet with little evidence of much new migration at the site. A flock of 80 Brent Geese were flying over Lavender Marsh and 5 Pink-feet were still south of the Broadwater. Offshore 2 Sandwich Terns passed by and at the Obs a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard in the pines while a single Swallow flew east along the east bank and 2 Cetti's Warblers, a Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler and 2 Blackcaps were noted. A Lesser Whitethroat was also heard along the east bank.
With the nights still cold in the high pressure conditions, moths were rather sparse but a few encouraging species; a single Muslin, Shuttle-shaped Dart and Hebrew Character accompanied by 2 Small Quakers. During the day several more Emperors of both sexes had hatched from the native brood! Butterflies today included 7 Green Hairstreaks, 3 Green-veined Whites, 5 Orange Tips, a Speckled Wood, and 3 Peacocks.
Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk Great White Egret Blakeney Freshmarsh still this morning
Norfolk Hen Harrier ringtail flew NW over Felmingham this morning
Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels Roydon Common NNR this a'noon
Norfolk 9.Little Gulls (8.ads +1w) Breydon Water flew east past South Wall +Spotted Redshank
Norfolk Ring Ouzel fem near Weybourne
Norfolk BLACK KITE y'day near Briston then flew NW
Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels between Stalham +East Ruston still in paddocks north of Weavers' Way 1/4ml west of Stepping Stone Lane
Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe Marshes still mid morning
Norfolk Ring Ouzel male Hickling in paddocks along Sea Palling road at 10am
Norfolk Great White Egret Welney WWT still
Norfolk 9+Ring Ouzels West Runton
Norfolk 2.Great White Egrets y'day Blakeney Freshmarsh
Norfolk 3.Ring Ouzels (2.males) Limpenhoe in paddocks east of Marsh Road mid morning
Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels (both males) Limpenhoe in paddocks east of Marsh Road then flew NE
Norfolk 3.Ring Ouzels y'day Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe Marshes at 7pm +Short-eared Owl
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
