Another blustery but bright day, with a Spoonbill on the Broadwater and 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Whimbrel and a single Golden Plover on the grazing marshes. Two Cuckoos were calling and 8 Swifts were feeding over the marsh, with a Swallow, Cetti's Warbler, 3 Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Whitethroats, 4 Sedge Warblers and a Reed Warbler of note. A male Stonechat was on the east bank and a Wheatear was on the grazing marsh.
A few butterflies were present with Small Heath, Small Copper, 3 Brown Argus, 2 Wall Brown and an Orange Tip recorded during the day.
Moths were scarce, with 2 Northern Drab, 2 White Ermine, a Muslin, 2 Cinnabar, a Heart & Dart and a Light Brown Apple Moth the only species caught.
A Large Red Damselfly was at the pond, and 2 newts were still present.
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
