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 Saturday 2nd May 2020

Seawatching this morning produced 11 Brent Geese east, 2 Fulmars west, an adult Gannet, one Little Tern, 22 Sandwich Terns and 3 Auk sp flying east. The Cuckoo was calling on and off during the day, and an adult Med Gull was of note, with 6 Swallows passing and 3 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Whitethroats, 8 Sedge Warblers, and a Reed Warbler recorded.

The moth traps were a little busier but no new species today; 4 Northern Drabs, a Pine Beauty, a Shuttle-shaped Dart, 5 Muslins, a Powdered Quaker and a Chocolate Tip were caught.

Butterflies included 2 Small Coppers, 2 Green Hairstreaks, a Wall, 4 Peacocks, 4 Orange Tips and 3 Green-veined Whites.

The Yellow Flag is beginning to come out around the pond, and the newts are still to be seen.




Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk 2.Ring Ouzels west of Aylmerton this morning
Norfolk Spoonbill Heacham flew north over Lamsey Lane at 2.10pm
Norfolk Richard's Pipit Sheringham flew west over Beeston Bump at 8.55am