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 Friday 1st May 2020

An improving day, with some warm sunny spells. A rather quiet day but a Cuckoo was calling in the village, and 6 Whimbrel and 8 Black-tailed Godwits were at the back of the marsh, while a mixed group of Swifts and hirundines was still to be found at the east end of the village, with one of the mystery Black Swans there also. Five Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 4 Whitethroats, 10 Sedge and 2 Reed Warblers were counted and a Wheatear was south of the river Hun.

Butterflies were seen in the afternoon with single Peacock and Green Hairstreak, and at least 2 Green-veined Whites.

After a cold damp night there were very few moths, with just singles of Shuttle-shaped Dart, White Ermine and Northern Drab in the traps. However during the day a colony of Green Long-horn moths were dancing around near the Dell Hide. This attractive species with its iridescent black wings and incredibly long antennae can easily be overlooked but is well worth closer examination.

Green Long-horn Moths



Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk 2.Common Cranes east of Norwich still 3.12pm over Whitlingham Ctry Park
Norfolk 2.Common Cranes east of Norwich at Thorpe St.Andrew over Thorpe Marsh at 3.07pm
Norfolk Turtle Dove Heacham South Beach +Ring Ouzel
Norfolk Great Northern Diver flew east past Weybourne Camp 6.30-8.30am
Norfolk BLACK KITE 1ml east of Cley just south of Walsey Hills NOA flew SE at 10.17am