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 4th May 2020

Another springlike day, starting off misty and overcast with sunny spells later in the day. A Green Sandpiper flew over the marsh in the morning and a Common Tern was fishing over the Broadwater. Five Whimbrel and 2 Curlew were on the grazing marsh, and 11 Black-tailed Godwits were on the NWT pools. Two Cuckoos were heard during the day, and 2 Swifts, 3 Swallows, 10 House Martins, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers, 4 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Whitethroats, 7 Sedge Warblers and a Reed Warbler were counted around the recording area. A Red Kite was drifting east over the marsh and at least 13 Pochard were on the edge of Broadwater.

Moths in the traps were a Small Waved Umber, Cinnabar, 2 Cochylis atricapitana, 2 Heart & Dart, a Small Elephant Hawk, Angle Shades, 5 Muslin, a Treble Lines, Chocolate Tip and a Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet. Five Green Long-horn Moths were at the west end of the reserve in the afternoon.

Butterflies included 10 Green Hairstreaks, a Red Admiral, 5 Orange Tips, 3 Green-veined White, a Large White and 2 Small Coppers.

A newly hatched Broad-bodied Chaser was near the Dell.

Below: Dark-barred Twin Spot Carpet, Treble Lines, and dust-bathing Pheasant





Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk report of White-tailed Eagle Ditchingham was a hoax
Norfolk White-tailed Eagle ad (ringed +wing-tagged) 3/4ml north of Ditchingham at Belsey Bridge on pole at 8am then flew off
Norfolk Garganey Hockwold Washes early morning
Norfolk Garganey Welney WWT still +Great White Egret still. Y'day Short-eared Owl
Norfolk 3.Common Cranes flew SE over Felbrigg at 10.32am
Norfolk Osprey Colney GPs at 10.45am
Norfolk Osprey Norwich flew south over New Costessey at 10.30am
Norfolk 3.Common Cranes flew west over Northrepps mid morning