A cool, breezy and rather damp day with showers and heavy rain in the afternoon. A large mixed group of Swifts and hirundines was out in the middle of the marsh during the day, with at least 7 Swifts, 20+ House Martins, a Sand Martin and 6 Swallows counted. A few waders were also to be found, with 6+ Black-tailed Godwits and 4+ Ruff to be seen. A Cuckoo was in the paddocks in the morning and 4 Whimbrel flew over calling. The two Black Swans of unknown origin were on the east end of Holme village.
Moths were very scant today with just 3 Muslins, 2 Shuttle-shaped Darts and a Northern Drab to be found in the traps, and no butterflies were observed.
Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk Hobby flew NW over Grimston at c1.30pm
Norfolk 3.Spotted Redshanks Burgh Castle
Norfolk Montagu's Harrier fem flew north over Felmingham at midday
Norfolk Osprey 1.5mls south of Thetford flew over Nunnery Lakes NR
Norfolk Spoonbill flew west over Blakeney Freshmarsh
Norfolk Great White Egret y'day Blakeney Freshmarsh still
Norfolk Ring Ouzel fem NW of Horsford at Haveringland
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
