Holme Bird Observatory (Header)

This is a polite reminder to all our members that our subscription rates have increased from 1st January. If you pay by standing order and have not yet done so, please amend your standing order to the new rate. More details can be found here. We are small charity reliant on the generosity of our supporters through membership subscriptions and donations. Why not become a member. For a minimum of £25 you can get all the benefits of being a member of the NOA. Just click the button on the right below. Or, if you would like to support us with a donation, it is very easy to do through our portal at VirginMoneyGiving. Just click the button on the right to go to our dedicated page. Thank you.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE – NOA RESERVES TO RE-OPEN FROM MONDAY 13TH JULY 2020

We are delighted to announce that we will be welcoming visitors back to Holme Bird Observatory from Monday 13th July 2020, and we are very much looking forward to seeing you once again. Thank you to all our members and visitors for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Please be aware that we are not yet able to restore full access.

Some restrictions must continue and these are as follows: Hempton Marsh and Walsey Hills reserves will be re-opening to visitors on 13th July, but hides on these reserves will remain closed. At Holme the following hides will remain closed for the time being: Redwell Marsh hide, Car Park hide, Sea-watching hide, Dell hide and Broadwater hide. The Bus-Stop, Dowson and Richardson hides will be accessible to one household at a time, and the viewing platform and seating area outside the cordon will be available as well, with social distancing in place. The Observatory building will also remain closed to visitors, but a member of staff will be able to come out to meet you. We do regret that for now visitors will not be able to empty moth traps with our staff, but we will retain specimens of special interest for visitors to view at a safe distance. We will continue to charge day permit fees.

We are very sorry not to offer a fuller visitor experience just yet, but these measures are for everyone's safety and we do appreciate your understanding. We will continue to review hide closures, and will post any changes on our website.

Holme Bird Observatory Monday 18th May 2020

A breezy but warm day, with a Red Kite drifting low over the Observatory mid morning, 2 Cuckoos, 6 Swifts, 25 Swallows, 10 House Martins and 3 Yellow Wagtails passing overhead. Offshore 10 Sandwich Terns were fishing and around the recording area 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Whitethroats, 12 Sedge and 1 Reed Warbler were singing. A Bullfinch was in Holme village.

Moths were numerous today with 29 species in the traps. Highlights were 10 Small Elephant Hawks, 2 Eyed Hawks, a Poplar Hawk, 9 Cinnabar, 2 Buff Tips, 5 Muslin, a Coxcomb Prominent, 2 Dark Sword-grass, a Knot Grass, Pebble Prominent and a tardy Hebrew Character.

Top to bottom: Poplar Hawk Moth, Pebble Prominent, Coxcomb Prominent, Dark Sword-grass






Butterflies included Brimstone, 7 Brown Argus, 2 Small Heath, Peacock, Small White, 2 Common Blues and 5 Wall Browns.

Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk Swallowtail butterfly Cley south of sewage works at 12.05pm
Norfolk Turtle Dove east of Wells at Blue Skies Campsite mid morning
Norfolk Little Gull 1s SE of Downham Market still at Wissington beet factory at 10.02am
Plantation at 6.40am but no further sign by 9.07am
Norfolk no sign of any Dotterel 1.5mls south of Titchwell at Choseley south of drying barns in field west of righthand bend in road by 8am