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 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 9th May 2020

Hazy sunshine throughout, but with a strengthening north-east breeze.

Highlights today were 30 Common Scoter offshore, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank , 9 Whimbrel, 87 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Terns, 2 Med Gulls, 2 Turtle Doves, 3 Cuckoos, a Barn Owl, 6 Swifts, a Hobby, 12 Swallows, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Whitethroats, a Grasshopper Warbler, 15 Sedge Warblers, 5 Reed Warblers, a Wheatear and a single Yellow Wagtail.

Around the reserve 2 Brown Argus, 3 Small Copper, 4 Wall Brown, 7 Green Hairstreak, 6 Orange Tip, 3 Green-veined White, 2 Large White and a Brimstone were recorded today, with a Large Red Damselfly at the pond.

Moths were very numerous today with 30 species recorded. New for the year were Pale Prominent, Turnip, Bordered White, Fern, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Sallow Kitten, Breckland Plume and Mottled Pug.

Below: Pale Prominent, Sallow Kitten, Bordered White, Breckland Plume, Fern, Mottled Pug and Red Twin-spot Carpet.










Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
For all this news, in the field as it happens, subscribe to Rare Bird Alert for as little as 14p per day
Norfolk Whinchat Cley by Beach Road
Norfolk Great White Egret Heacham South Beach. 2.drk.Scaup on The Wash
Norfolk Spoonbill Heacham South Beach +2.Wood Sands 2.Turtle Doves
Norfolk 2.Wood Sands 1ml ESE of Potter Heigham at Potter Heigham Marshes at 10am +2.Common Cranes
Norfolk 4.Wood Sands Snettisham at Ken Hill Marsh +3.Turtle Doves
Norfolk possible Black Kite SW of Norwich flew SSW over Eaton late morning
Norfolk BLACK KITE reported y'day Great Ellingham at 3.40pm then flew NE
Norfolk Wryneck Potter Heigham at Marsh Road at 8.45am (Spoonbill flew NW at 7.30am)
Norfolk Golden Oriole fem/1s.male flew west over West Runton at 7.08am
Norfolk Turtle Dove y'day Saddlebow flew north over power station at 7.45am
Norfolk Quail male singing near Grimston Warren in field south of Church Farm
Norfolk Black Redstart male singing Norwich at Westlegate still