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 3rd May 2020

A calm and mild day but with light rain in the afternoon. Another rather quiet day for migrants with a Red Kite drifting south over the pines mid morning and on the grazing marsh 4 Golden Plover and 6+ Whimbrel were still present. Four Swifts were over the marshes and a House Martin at the east end of the village, with at least 4 Cetti's Warblers in fine voice and 5 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroats, 12 Sedge Warblers and 3 Reed Warblers counted around the recording area. A pair of Bullfinches was also of interest. A Tawny Owl flew across the reserve mid afternoon, and 2 Spoonbills flew east over the Broadwater.

The moth traps were productive with several new species for the year. The total catch was; a Chocolate Tip, Swallow Prominent, Heart & Dart, Green Carpet, Light Brown Apple Moth, Cochylis atricapitana, Isotrias rectifascianus, White Ermine, Water Carpet, 2 Small Elephant Hawk, 3 Northern Drab and 6 Muslin.

Below: Green Carpet, Heart and Dart, Small Elephant Hawk and Water Carpet




 
 
A further surprise was in the Observatory, when one of last year's Eyed Hawk Moth cocoons hatched!






Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk Great White Egret Blakeney Freshmarsh still at Great Barnett at 10am
Norfolk Spoonbill Heacham South Beach +4.Turtle Doves
Norfolk Great White Egret y'day Blakeney Freshmarsh still
Norfolk no sign of any Dotterel 1.5mls south of Southery +east of A10 at Sedge Fen by Sedge Fen Road in field near Sedge Fen Farm early a'noon
Norfolk 3.Turtle Doves Snettisham Coastal Park
Norfolk Wood Sand Cley NWT
Norfolk 8.Dotterel 1.5mls south of Southery +east of A10 at Sedge Fen by Sedge Fen Road in field near Sedge Fen Farm
Norfolk Osprey flew north over Stoke Holy Cross at 9.45am