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 Sunday 10th May 2020

A rough north north-east wind dominated today with little sign of migration and many birds keeping to cover. A brief look at the sea produced 2 Common Terns east with a further two along the Broadwater and 2 Sandwich Terns flying the same way. A Spoonbill flew east over the grazing marsh and 75 Black-tailed Godwits were on the southern side. A Common Sandpiper was still on the edge of Broadwater and an immature Med Gull was of interest. A Cuckoo was calling first thing but soon gave up on its exploits! A Swallow and 9 House Martins were flying low in a sheltered spot at the east end of Holme village, and a Cetti's Warbler, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroats, 6 Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler and a Bullfinch were counted.

There were no butterflies, but the overcast and warm night still produced come decent moths, including 2 Eyed Hawk Moths, a Small Elephant Hawk, 6 Northern Drabs, 8 Muslins, 10 Cinnabars, 2 Small Waved Umbers, a Ruby Tiger, a Yellow Belle, 3 Iron Prominents, 4 White Ermines, 2 Green Carpets, a Least Black Arches, 3 Treble Lines, a Bordered White, a Shears, Marbled Minor sp, Heart and Dart and Flame Shoulder.

Shears and Marbled Minor sp

 
 
Angle-barred Pug


 
 
Iron Prominent



Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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