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 Update Monday 17th May 2021

From Monday 17th May 2021 the NOA is pleased to re-open its reserve hides to single households at a time. We will still be advising the wearing of a face covering when in NOA hides. Your continued understanding and support is very much appreciated.




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 Wednesday 12th August 2020

Seawatching today produced a large feeding flock of 135+ Common Terns, 400+ Herring Gulls, 2 juvenile Kittiwakes and 10 Gannets offshore. 60+ Sandwich Terns flew east and 3 Little Terns and 3 Common Scoters passed west. Two Pied Flycatchers were again seen in the pines at the west entrance to the NOA reserve, and 3 Green Sandpipers and a Black-tailed Godwit were around the NWT pools.

A total of 101 species of moths were recorded today including 2 Tawny Speckled Pugs, 2 Double-striped Pugs, 7 Cloaked Minors, 6 Yellow-tails, 4 Straw Underwings, 3 Scarce Footmen, 4 Sharp-angled Peacocks, 4 Ferns, 8 Archer's Darts, 3 Tawny-barred Angles, 5 Small Waved Umbers, 6 Garden Pebbles, 5 Small Fan-footed Waves, 1 Straw Dot, 16 Dingy Footmen, 3 Turnips, 2 Webb's Wainscots, a Small Wainscot, a Green Carpet, 3 Rosy Footmen, 2 Knot Grass, a Buff Ermine, a Pine Hawk, 2 Garden Tigers, a White Point, 2 Least Carpets, Swallow and Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pebble Prominent, 26 Flounced Rustics, 5 White-line Darts, one Narrow-winged and 4 Angle-barred Pugs, a Gold Spot, Willow Beauty, Brown-line Bright Eye, Bright-line Brown-eye, Brimstone, Silver Y, 2 Small Square-spots, Common Carpet, Common Wave, Ear agg and Fen Wainscot.


Two Webb's Wainscots from the traps today.

Over 50 Red Admirals were feeding on the buddleias this afternoon with Comma, Small Heath, Brown Argus, Peacock, Gatekeeper and Wall Brown also noted. At least 10 Migrant Hawkers were around the pond.

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 Red-backed Shrike 1w still 2pm west of Titchwell RSPB in bushes just east of Thornham Point near old brick lookout
Norfolk 2.Pied Flys Salthouse at Gramborough Hill this morning
Norfolk 3.Spoonbills Cley NWT at Arnold's Marsh at 1.14pm
Norfolk GREENISH WARBLER just NNW of Sidestrand by cliff north of Sidestrand Hall this morning TG.259.400
Norfolk 2.Pied Flys Waxham still this morning
Norfolk Spotted Redshank Cley NWT
Norfolk Icterine Warbler Wells Woods between beach path +north end of Dell
Norfolk Red-backed Shrike 1w still mid morning west of Titchwell RSPB in bushes just east of Thornham Point
Norfolk Honey Buzzard flew east over Waxham at 9.47am
Norfolk 2.Spoonbills Snettisham RSPB still on pits +2.Little Stints 5.Spotted Redshanks
Norfolk GREENISH WARBLER Sidestrand
Norfolk Pied Fly Winterton South Dunes by oaks at 8.20am
Norfolk released White-tailed Eagle juv north of Bawsey Quarries in pine plantation at 5.45am then flew south [from Isle of Wight reintroduction scheme]
Norfolk Red-backed Shrike fem still west of Titchwell RSPB in bushes just east of Thornham Point at 6.39am