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 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