Holme Bird Observatory (Header)

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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 Monday 5th October 2020


Winds changed direction this morning but with many migrants still moving, highlights included a juvenile Goshawk over Thornham Harbour, a Barn Owl, 2 Swifts, a Kingfisher, a juvenile Peregrine over the grazing marsh, 2 Swallows, 15 House Martins, 2+ Yellow-browed Warblers, a Lesser Whitethroat, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers in the pines north of the NOA reserve, 4+ Redstarts, a Wheatear at Thornham, 4 Rock Pipits, 3 Redpolls, 10 Siskins, and a Hawfinch over the dunes. The Blyth's Reed Warbler was sadly not seen during the day.

 

Moths included a Pearly Underwing (pictured), Black Rustic, 5 Feathered Ranunculus, a Square-spot Rustic, 3 Rusty-dot Pearl, a Rush Veneer, 4 Silver Ys, a Setaceous Hebrew Character, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Large Wainscot, 2 Diamond-backs, 4 Large Yellow Underwings and 2 Lunar Underwings.

 

With a little sunshine in the middle of the day, Wall Brown and Peacock butterflies were seen.

 

Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT

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Norfolk EASTERN STONECHAT sp (probably Stejneger's Stonechat) still 3.30pm between Happisburgh +Cart Gap at north end of Doggett's Lane

Norfolk Ring Ouzel Weybourne Camp still this morning

Norfolk 2.Y-br.Wblrs Sedgeford still by path west of church at 2.44pm

Norfolk possible Short-toed Lark y'day 1/2ml west of Wighton by Crabbe Road in flight with Skylarks

Norfolk 4.Common Cranes flew over Welney WWT

Norfolk ARCTIC WARBLER still Wells Woods in middle this a'noon (+Mealy Redpoll +Hawfinch flew east)

Norfolk Lapland Bunting Brancaster c250yds west of golf clubhouse flew low west over dunes +saltmarsh at 8am

Norfolk Little Gull just E.of Wells at North Point Pools by track north of A149 +1/3ml E of steam railway entrance at 11.30am. Keep to public rights of way +don't enter from railway station TF.932.431

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Hopton-on-Sea early a'noon

Norfolk 2.Y-br.Wblrs Holme Dunes late morning +Pied Fly

Norfolk 2.Hawfinches flew east over Holkham Pines at 12.19pm

Norfolk 4.Y-br.Wblrs Holkham Pines this morning

Norfolk Lapland Bunting Holkham Gap still this morning

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

Norfolk Lapland Bunting flew over Waxham (Black Redstart on farm buildings near church)

Norfolk Glossy Ibis still 1.28pm c1ml NW of Martham east of Martham Ferry in field with yellow digger south of River Thurne

Norfolk PALLID HARRIER 1/2ml west of Wighton flew south over Crabbe Road at c12.55pm +Hoopoe still on dung heap

Norfolk Wryneck Happisburgh still in horse paddock. Shorelark by coastguard lookout

Norfolk Red-backed Shrike 1w Wells Woods still on fence 400yds south of Pinewoods Caravan Park at midday

Norfolk 2.Great White Egrets flew south past Hopton-on-Sea

Norfolk Red-backed Shrike Thornham still 11.55am on north side of village in hedge viewed from loop path

Norfolk Hoopoe still 11.55am 1/2ml west of Wighton on manure heap south of Crabbe Road

Norfolk Richard's Pipit west of Ludham near Johnson Street at Buttle Marsh NR flushed at 10.45am then flew across river to Horning Upper Street Marshes

Norfolk Hawfinch Holme Dunes in scrub by track entrance

Norfolk repeat: EASTERN STONECHAT sp (probably Stejneger's Stonechat) between Happisburgh +Cart Gap at north end of Doggett's Lane (for 3rd day) [faeces have been collected for DNA analysis]

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Sedgeford still by path west of church at 9.50am

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Titchwell RSPB still by boardwalk to Fen Hide at 9.45am

Norfolk EASTERN STONECHAT sp (probably Stejneger's Stonechat) between Happisburgh +Cart Gap at north end of Doggett's Lane [faeces have been collected for DNA analysis]

Norfolk reported Isabelline Shrike sp Thornham on north side of village viewed south from sea wall is a Red-backed Shrike +still present late morning

Norfolk Glossy Ibis still c1ml NW of Martham east of Martham Ferry in fields south of River Thurne at 10.55am

Norfolk Red-necked Phal still 10.15am Salthouse off A149 from path north towards Little Eye cTG.076.440

Norfolk Great White Egret flew NW over Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe Marshes at 9.15am. 4.Jack Snipe in wet grass near scrape

Norfolk 1+Y-br.Wblr NNW of King's Lynn at Lynn Point

Norfolk ISABELLINE SHRIKE sp Thornham on north side of village viewed south from sea wall at c9.55am tho distant

Norfolk 2.Y-br.Wblrs Wells Woods between entrance +300yds west of The Dell on south side of track +Pied Fly 2.Redstarts

Norfolk Great White Egret Breydon Water flew south over east end

Norfolk Hoopoe still 1/2ml west of Wighton on manure heap south of Crab Road at 9.08am

Norfolk Hoopoe still 1/2ml west of Wighton on manure heap south of Crabbe Road at 9.08am

Norfolk Red-necked Phal still Salthouse off A149 from path north towards Little Eye cTG.076.440

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Wells Woods at The Dell at east end at 8.45am +Pied Fly

Norfolk 4.Cattle Egrets y'day Burnham Overy Marshes still +Great White Egret still

Norfolk Caspian Gull y'day Titchwell RSPB

Norfolk Lapland Bunting y'day Holkham Gap still at SE end of dunes in a'noon tho mobile

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr y'day Great Yarmouth at Caister Road Cemetery

Norfolk DUSKY WARBLER y'day Sculthorpe Moor NR along River Wensum in scrub behind Victors Hide at 3.15pm