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 TO RE-OPEN FROM MONDAY 13TH JULY 2020

We are delighted to announce that we will be welcoming visitors back to Holme Bird Observatory from Monday 13th July 2020, and we are very much looking forward to seeing you once again. Thank you to all our members and visitors for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Please be aware that we are not yet able to restore full access.

Some restrictions must continue and these are as follows: Hempton Marsh and Walsey Hills reserves will be re-opening to visitors on 13th July, but hides on these reserves will remain closed. At Holme the following hides will remain closed for the time being: Redwell Marsh hide, Car Park hide, Sea-watching hide, Dell hide and Broadwater hide. The Bus-Stop, Dowson and Richardson hides will be accessible to one household at a time, and the viewing platform and seating area outside the cordon will be available as well, with social distancing in place. The Observatory building will also remain closed to visitors, but a member of staff will be able to come out to meet you. We do regret that for now visitors will not be able to empty moth traps with our staff, but we will retain specimens of special interest for visitors to view at a safe distance. We will continue to charge day permit fees.

We are very sorry not to offer a fuller visitor experience just yet, but these measures are for everyone's safety and we do appreciate your understanding. We will continue to review hide closures, and will post any changes on our website.

Holme Bird Observatory Saturday 4th July 2020

A grey and windy day with light rain on and off, the highlights today were a Great White Egret over the grazing marsh mid morning, a Spoonbill on the Broadwater, 8 Black-tailed Godwits flying east, a Greenshank flying over calling, an adult Med Gull over the dunes, and 2 Stonechats along the east bank.

A Southern Hawker was flying in the shelter of the pines, and Small Heath, a Small Skipper sp, Red Admiral, Ringlet and Meadow Brown were around the reserve. In the moth traps a meagre offering included an Elephant Hawk Moth, 2 Cinnabars, a Flame Shoulder, Large Yellow Underwing, 5 Common Footmen, a Smoky Wainscot, a Scarce Footman, a Rustic and a Nutmeg.


Elephant Hawk Moth

Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk Wood Sand just east of Wells still at North Point Pools by track north of A149 +1/3ml east of steam railway entrance this a'noon +5.Spoonbills. Keep to public rights of way +do not enter from railway stn TF.932.431
Norfolk 13.Spoonbills 1ml ESE of Potter Heigham at Potter Heigham Marshes early a'noon +Great White Egret still. Use car park at Lathams (£8.50 per day) +take track ENE 1ml NR29 5JE TG.436.195
Norfolk 35.Spoonbills 1ml ENE of Stiffkey just north of A149 at Stiffkey Fen at 12.15pm. Use A149 layby, walk east +take footpath north along west side of River Stiffkey TF.983.437
Norfolk 2.Cattle Egrets Burnham Overy Staithe from sea wall +2.Great White Egrets 6.Spoonbills
Norfolk Osprey Hickling Broad NWT at 9.17am
Norfolk 3+Cattle Egrets (2+juvs) recently Holkham NNR