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 – Tuesday 29th DECEMBER 2020

Further to the announcement of a Tier 4 (Stay at home) lockdown in Norfolk, the NOA has closed all hides on its nature reserves. While we would discourage anyone from travelling too far during this crucial time, our reserves themselves will remain open for local visitors and usual charges will apply for non-members. Please follow government advice, and respect social distancing at all times. We will restore access to our facilities as and when government restrictions permit.

We are very grateful for your understanding and support.

Holme Bird Observatory Friday 16th October 2020


Another superb day in the recording area with Red-flanked Bluetails seen at the Beach Car Park by the Golf Course and a first year female trapped and ringed on the NOA reserve. A Dusky Warbler was also seen near the beach car park, and at least 1 Pallas' Warbler was found, with a Yellow-browed Warbler also reported. A probable first winter Common Rosefinch was also reported west of the car parks briefly late morning. On the sea 6 Eiders, 750 Common Scoters, 5 Goldeneye, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Fulmar, 2 Gannets, 2 Great Crested Grebes and an Arctic Skua were noted, while waders on the fresh marsh included 90 Golden Plover and 37 Black-tailed Godwits. Also of interest today were 2+ Woodcocks dropping in amongst the pines, a Merlin hunting south of the Broadwater, 200+ Goldcrests, 8 Bearded Tits, 2 Swallows east, 2 Chiffchaffs, 15 Blackcaps, 2 Ring Ouzels in the dunes on the NWT reserve, 25 Blackbirds, 4 Mistle Thrushes, 50+ Redwings, 30 Robins, 2 Grey Wagtails, a Rock Pipit, 10 Bramblings, 4 Twite, 2 Redpolls, 3 Crossbills, 2 Siskins and 5 Snow Buntings.

 

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 Pallas's Warbler Wells Woods along main track 50yds west of drinking pool at 4.11pm

Norfolk 2.Pallas's Warblers Stiffkey Campsite Wood still 3.30pm: 1.at east end of wood, 1.by boat at east end of campsite (male.Hen Harrier over saltmarsh)

Norfolk Ring Ouzel Holme Dunes in bushes at 1.30pm with Redwings

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Holme in small pines by beach car park at 3.28pm

Norfolk Tree Pipit Breydon Water flew SW over South Wall early a'noon

Norfolk Richard's Pipit Horsey over field opposite Poppylands Cafe at 3.25pm (+Common Crane)

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Stiffkey Campsite Wood at east end still 2.30pm

Norfolk Little Auk flew north past Horsey

Norfolk Red-necked Grebe y'day flew west past Scolt Head Island 7.20-10am +Puffin flew east

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Waxham still 2.30pm c30yds north of Bide-a-wee chalet tho elusive

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL Holkham Pines still 2.31pm along main path c100yds east of crosstanks cTF.877.451

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Holme Dunes still 2.16pm in silver birch opposite Richardson Hide

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL 1ml SE of Waxham still 2pm by coast path just north of pipe dump in copse +showing on +off TG.451.254

Norfolk Barred Warbler Burnham Overy Dunes still 1.45pm at east end by west end of Holkham Pines in brambles in 1st hollow on north side of path

Norfolk EASTERN STONECHAT sp Holkham Freshmarsh still 1.45pm in NW corner beyond 5-bar gate viewed from hill at west end of Holkham Pines cTF.886.448

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Holme NOA along entrance track in poplar saplings opposite Pepper Pot at 1.30pm

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Holkham Pines still 1.30pm c200yds west of Meals House cTF.877.451

Norfolk Ring Ouzel Warham Greens still 12.45pm in hedge west of Garden Drove tho elusive

Norfolk Black Redstart Horsey Gap on pillbox south of car park at 11am

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL 1ml SE of Waxham still 12.35pm by coast path just north of pipe dump on fence TG.451.254

Norfolk Great Northern Diver flew east past Cley NWT 8am-10.30am +1w.Little Gull Short-eared Owl

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Great Yarmouth Cemetery still this a'noon

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Waxham still just north of Bide-a-wee

Norfolk EASTERN STONECHAT sp still 12.27pm Holkham Freshmarsh in NW corner near last pine on right viewed from hill at west end of Holkham Pines cTF.886.448

Norfolk Red-necked Grebe y'day flew west past Cley 3pm-4.15pm

Norfolk Hen Harrier ringtail flew over Wells at 12.08pm

Norfolk Short-eared Owl Happisburgh by Whites Farm at 9.54am

Norfolk 6.Snow Buntings Cley NWT on beach opposite North Scrape

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Trimingham in clifftop wood at 12.02pm (+Y-br.Wblr)

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL Holme NOA still midday in pines just east of car park

Norfolk 3.Pallas's Warblers Stiffkey Campsite Wood still late morning (male.Hen Harrier on saltmarsh)

Norfolk Short-eared Owl Burnham Overy Dunes still 11.13am near Gun Hill

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Burnham Overy Dunes still just east of Gun Hill at 11.40am

Norfolk EASTERN STONECHAT sp Holkham Freshmarsh in NW corner beyond 5-bar gate at 11.38am cTF.886.448

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Holkham Pines still 11.32am along main path c60yds east of crosstracks with Goldcrests cTF.877.451

Norfolk 2.Little Auks Salthouse flew west past Iron Road at 11.25am

Norfolk Barred Warbler Burnham Overy Dunes still 11.05am at east end by west end of Holkham Pines in brambles in 1st hollow on north side of path (+5.Y-br.Wblrs)

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL 1ml SE of Waxham still late morning by coast path just north of pipe dump on fence TG.451.254

Norfolk DUSKY WARBLER still Overstrand at Cromer Golf Course 1ml west of clifftop car park at west end of large bracken-covered hill at 10.45am

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL Holme NOA still 10.42am in pines behind observatory near start of raised section

Norfolk probable Dusky Warbler Stiffkey c1/2ml west of campsite car park by coast path briefly

Norfolk Ring Ouzel Warham Greens

Norfolk 3+Pallas's Warblers Stiffkey Campsite Wood still: 1.in main wood, 2.in hedgerows to east (Y-br.Wblr Stiffkey Fen)

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Heacham

Norfolk no sign of Pallas's Warbler Waxham 100yds north of Shangri-la chalet by coast path (but Y-br.Wblr)

Norfolk RED-THROATED PIPIT Sea Palling near Weston Cottage on edge of flooded field by The Marrams with Meadow Pipits tho mobile TG.417.280

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL Holme Dunes in paddocks at 9.36am

Norfolk Barred Warbler Burnham Overy Dunes still at east end by west end of Holkham Pines at 9.45am

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Warham Greens at north end of Garden Drove

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL 1ml SE of Waxham still 9.40am by coast path just north of pipe dump on fence tho elusive TG.451.254

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL fem/1w.male Holme still 9.30am east of village car park 100yds from footbridge cTF.698.440

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL 1ml SE of Waxham still by coast path just north of pipe dump on fence tho elusive at 9.22am TG.451.254

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr 1ml east of Cley still south of A149 at Walsey Hills NOA in sallows at 8.54am

Norfolk 2.Pallas's Warbler Stiffkey Campsite Wood at east end still 9.10am

Norfolk no sign of Red-flanked Bluetail Cromer at NE corner of Warren Wood

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Holkham Pines still along main path c100yds east of crosstracks at 8.56am (+2.Y-br.Wblrs) cTF.877.451

Norfolk Short-eared Owl Burnham Overy Dunes near Gun Hill. male.Hen Harrier flew east early morning

Norfolk Short-eared Owl y'day Strumpshaw Fen RSPB

Norfolk Black Redstart fem/1w.male Sheringham by boating lake at 8.25am

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Holkham Pines just west of crosstracks at 8.23am

Norfolk Jack Snipe Holme at golf course flew from bushes by 8th green at 8.13am

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Stiffkey Campsite Wood still at east end at 8.20am

Norfolk DUSKY WARBLER Holme east of village car park by bridge by path from golf club car park at c8.20am

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL Holkham Pines still along main path c100yds east of crosstanks at 8.06am cTF.877.451

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL Holme NOA trapped +ringed

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL fem/1w.male Holme still east of village car park by golf course tho elusive cTF.698.440

Norfolk Hawfinch Norwich flew west over Trix Road at 7.39am

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL Holme NOA trapped

Norfolk DUSKY WARBLER 1ml east of Cley still south of A149 at Walsey Hills NOA retrapped at 7.30am