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 Wednesday 22nd April 2020

With the wind easy just a touch, there were signs of more migration taking place with Swallow numbers reaching double figures and at least four Sand Martins noted. A Woodlark appeared early morning stopping to sing briefly from the east bank before continuing east, followed a short while later by a Tree Pipit, again heading east. Three Green Sandpipers flew noisily in, choosing to rest on the edge of the Broadwater before continuing their journey onwards. Cuckoo, Grasshopper Warbler and Wheatear were amongst the species noted present again and a two Red Kites and two Spoonbills moved east across the Grazing Marsh.
Noteworthy insects included the first Wall Brown Butterfly and a Large Red Damselfly.

One of today's Wheatears

Red Kite

 
Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk Ring Ouzel fem between Stalham +East Ruston still in paddocks north of Weavers' Way 1/4ml west of Stepping Stone Lane
Norfolk PALLID HARRIER juv Sheringham flew east over golf course at c7.40am then over Beeston Bump
Norfolk PALLID HARRIER juv flew east over Weybourne Camp at 7.28am
Norfolk Ring Ouzel fem Poringland along Dove Lane this morning
Norfolk Spoonbill y'day Cley NWT on Pope's Marsh
Norfolk 14.Bar-tailed Godwits flew NE over Felmingham early morning
Norfolk BLACK-WINGED STILT y'day Welney WWT from road
Norfolk Hen Harrier ringtail y'day Roydon Common NNR
Norfolk Short-eared Owl y'day King's Lynn over fields between Spring Wood +Reffley Resr at 7.30pm cTF.647.213