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.

COVID-19 Update Monday 12th April 2021

Further to the lifting of restrictions on Monday 12th April 2021 the NOA reserves and car parks remain open to visitors but hides remain closed. We are hoping to be able to open hides to visitors on Monday 17th May 2021 in line with expected changes to government restrictions, and will post further updates on this page prior to the changes commencing.
We continue to thank all our members and visitors for their patience, and for continuing to keep our staff and visitors safe.



Trial of Booking System for NWT Holme Dunes From Saturday 24th April



Owing to recent visitor numbers, NWT Holme Dunes Reserve is trialling a booking system for its Car Park. Until 6th September 2021 those members and visitors wishing to park in the NWT Car Park will need to book online for Weekends, Bank Holidays, or in School Holidays to ensure they can get a place. Booking is not necessary outside these times, and is not required for access to any other part of the reserve. Parking remains free for NWT members and blue badge holders.
This may affect many of our members, and we would like to clarify that NOA members do not need to book to use the NOA car park at any time between dawn and dusk. For NOA members who also belong to NWT and wish to visit both reserves, please park in the NOA car park if you do not wish to book in advance for the Holme Dunes Reserve Car Park.

Holme Bird Observatory Thursday 18th June 2020

A relentlessly wet day with a strong southerly breeze, there was not a lot to report today but a Spoonbill was on the Broadwater and a Cuckoo was flying west over the reserve mid morning. Otherwise things were dominated by the noisy nearby colony of Black-headed Gulls!

Moths were fairly numerous with a Silver Y, 8 Cinnabars, 5 Bordered Whites, an Uncertain, 3 Barred Straw, 2 Common Swifts, a Dwarf Cream Wave, Brown Rustic, Flame, Grey Dagger ag., 2 Diamond-backs, a Dark Arches, Sharp-angled Peacock, Marbled Minor ag., Fern, 2 Sand Dart, 2 Common Footman, a Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Heart & Dart, Small Elephant Hawk, Treble Brown-Spot, Willow Beauty, and a Grey Pine Carpet.

Below: Grey Pine Carpet and Grey Dagger/Dark Dagger ag.




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 2.Caspian Gulls (3s +2s) Cley beach +4.1s.Little Gulls then flew north
Norfolk Wood Sand just east of Wells at North Point Pools by track north of A149 +1/3ml east of steam railway entrance. Keep to public rights of way +do not enter from railway stn TF.932.431
Norfolk Garganey Welney WWT still +Great White Egret still
Norfolk again no sign of Savi's Warbler 2mls ESE of Norwich just south of Thorpe St.Andrew +north of River Yare at Thorpe Marshes NWT east of cattle pens by path left of railway bridge TG.268.083
Norfolk House Finch male on Sunday North Walsham on feeder in garden