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 Wednesday 6th May 2020

With the wind dropping for the early part of the day there was seemingly more bird activity with at least three active and vocal Cuckoos plus 15 singing Whitethroats and 4 Lesser Whitethroats. A Red Kite in heavy wing moult drifted across the marsh mid morning and around 90 Brent Geese were still present in Thornham Harbour.
The moth trap contained seven species, a small rise on yesterday, and a similar number of butterfly species were recorded which included Small Heath, Small Copper and Brown Argus.

The colour ringed Stonechat from Dersingham Bog is still present on site

Brown Argus

Female Orange-tip, smart even without 'Orange tips'

Small Copper


Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk 2.Common Cranes flew east over Norwich
Norfolk 2.Garganey (1.drk) Buckenham Marshes RSPB
Norfolk Wood Sand 1ml ESE of Potter Heigham at Potter Heigham Marshes
Norfolk 4.Wood Sands y'day Snettisham Coastal Park in evng +2.Turtle Doves 1s.Little Gull