Holme Bird Observatory (Header)

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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.

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Holme Bird Observatory Thursday 15th October 2020

Another excellent day of migration, with at least one Red-flanked Bluetail at the beach car park near the Golf Course seen well at times during the day. The Pallas' Warbler ringed yesterday was again seen at the Observatory/NWT car park and recaptured during the morning, with 2 probable Siberian Chiffchaffs, one ringed during the morning, also seen on the NOA reserve. On the sea 11 Eiders, 500+ Common Scoters, a drake Velvet Scoter, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Red-throated Diver, 62 Gannets and 13 Kittiwakes were counted and 3 Woodcock, 3 Short-eared Owls, 12 Carrion Crows, 11,000+ Starlings, 20 Blackbirds, a Fieldfare, 6 Song Thrushes, 100+ Redwings, 30 Robins, a Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtails, 2 Rock Pipits, 65 Bramblings, 4 Crossbills, 5 Siskins and a Lapland Bunting among the many passage birds observed during the day. Other birds of note included a Greenshank, 84 Black-tailed Godwits, 95 Golden Plover, 230 Lapwings, 3 Water Rails, a Barn Owl, a Peregrine, 150 Goldcrests, 30 Long-tailed Tits, 10 Blackcaps, a Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Stonechats.

 

Another Scarce Bordered Straw was in the moth trap with Angle Shades, Beaded Chestnut and Large Wainscot also caught. A Red Admiral, Common Darter and Migrant Hawker were also noted.

 

Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT

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Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL Holkham Pines still 4.25pm from main path east of crosstracks at roped-off area

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Caister-on-Sea at start of Casiter Golf Club entrance road behind Beach Farm Cottage at 4pm

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Cley at Picnic Fayre in car park

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL fem/1w.male Holme still 3.55pm east of village car park in bushes by golf course cTF.698.440

Norfolk 2.Great White Egrets between Horsey Corner +Horsey Gap in ditch by east side of road late a'noon

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Holkham Pines c1/2ml west of Lady Anne's Drive at 3.50pm

Norfolk Great White Egret Hickling Broad NWT on scrape by path to Stubb Mill at 4.07pm

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL Cromer at NE corner of Warren Wood

Norfolk reported 1w.Black Guillemot Wells viewed from near Harbour Office at 3.25pm was a Red-throated Diver

Norfolk 3.Pallas's Warbler Stiffkey Campsite Wood this a'noon: 2.at east end, 1.by boat by caravan park

Norfolk 9.Cattle Egrets Holkham Freshmarsh still at west end with cattle at 3.36pm

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Great Yarmouth Cemetery early a'noon +Long-eared Owl

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Holme Dunes NWT still 1.10pm in sycamores in car park +showing well

Norfolk Black Guillemot 1w Wells viewed from near Harbour Office at 3.25pm

Norfolk DUSKY WARBLER 1ml east of Cley still 2.45pm south of A149 at Walsey Hills NOA briefly 2.45pm then flew to sallows

Norfolk 4.Great White Egrets Holkham Freshmarsh

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Buckenham Marshes RSPB at mill at 11am

Norfolk Glossy Ibis still 2.41pm 1ml NW of Martham +south of River Thurne at Martham Ferry in 2nd field east of fishing pit. From Ferrygate Lane take footpath TG.449.199

Norfolk Short-eared Owl Winterton Dunes NNR in North Dunes flew over plantation at 10.30am

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr 1ml east of Cley still south of A149 at Walsey Hills NOA at 2.14pm

Norfolk Common Crane just north of Edgefield in field TG.609.334

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL fem/1w.male Holme still 2.15pm by golf course opposite toilet block in hedge near village car park

Norfolk reported Blyth's Reed Warbler Holkham just east of Meals House was an ad.Reed Warbler

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Waxham still 2pm 100yds north of Shangri-la chalet by coast path +showing well

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL 1ml SE of Waxham still 1.45pm by coast path just north of pipe dump on fence +showing well TG.451.254

Norfolk 2.Black Redstarts reported Heacham South Beach +Slav Grebe

Norfolk Barred Warbler Burnham Overy Dunes still at east end by west end of Holkham Pines in 1st hollow on south side in brambles by path this a'noon +showing well

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Burnham Overy Dunes still 1.10pm on south side just west of Gun Hill (+Great White Egret)

Norfolk 2.Cattle Egrets Burnham Overy Marshes still near A149 late morning

Norfolk 1+Pallas's Warbler Stiffkey Campsite Wood: 1.in scycamores by old boat at east end of caravans, 1.on south side

Norfolk 11.Common Cranes Waxham at Brograve Farm +showing well

Norfolk 9.Snow Buntings Blakeney Point near seal reserve on shingle near 'no access' sign at 12.45pm

Norfolk Lapland Bunting Holme Dunes at east end flew west over beach at 12.39pm

Norfolk Siberian Chiffchaff 1ml west of Wells Woods in ditch south of metal gate at 10.30am +showing well

Norfolk no further sign of any Pallas's Warbler Holme Dunes by late morning

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL fem/1w.male Holme still 12.45pm by golf course opposite toilet block in hedge near village car park

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL fem/1w.male Holme still midday in hedge near village car park

Norfolk Hawfinch 1ml SW of Sea Palling by Calthorpe NNR flew SE over Lound Bridge at 12.30pm TG.416.261

Norfolk BLYTH'S REED WARBLER ad still 12.41pm Holkham just east of Meals House tho elusive

Norfolk Grey Phal flew north past Winterton this morning

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Wells Woods still in silver birches at 12.24pm

Norfolk 2.Lapland Buntings Brancaster Staithe at harbour at 11.15am then flew towards Brancaster Golf Course

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL 1ml SE of Waxham still 12.10pm by coast path just north of pipe dump in trees near fence TG.451.254

Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Winterton Dunes still this a'noon in valley

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler male singing Holkham Pines west of crosstracks

Norfolk Glossy Ibis still 1ml NW of Martham +south of River Thurne at Martham Ferry in 2nd field east of fishing pit at 9.45am. From Ferrygate Lane take footpath TG.449.199

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Waxham still 11.50am 100yds north of Shangri-la chalet by coast path but no further sign of Red-flanked Bluetail

Norfolk 2.Black Redstarts (1.male) Waxham still. possible Siberian Lesser Whitethroat (form blythi) at church

Norfolk DUSKY WARBLER 1ml east of Cley +south of A149 at Walsey Hills NOA trapped +ringed at midday

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL Holkham Pines still 11.57am 100yds north of crosstracks

Norfolk BLYTH'S REED WARBLER ad Holkham just east of Meals House at 11.45am

Norfolk Great Grey Shrike Winterton Dunes in valley

Norfolk RED-THROATED PIPIT 1ml SE of Sea Palling by Calthorpe NNR flew south over Lound Farm at 11.19am TG.416.257

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Wells Woods still between car park +old toilet block in silver birches south of path late morning

Norfolk probable Olive-backed Pipit Holkham Pines flew east over north side at 10.40am

Norfolk 6.Cattle Egrets y'day Burnham Overy Marshes at 1.30pm with cattle +4.Great White Egrets

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL fem/1w.male Holme still 10.58am in hedge near village car park

Norfolk DUSKY or RADDE'S WARBLER Holme in pines by start of golf course at 10.12am then flew to sallows

Norfolk Hawfinch flew south over Holkham Gap at 9.59am

Norfolk Lapland Bunting Cley NWT on shingle east of north end of East Bank at 9.50am

Norfolk 5+Cattle Egrets Holkham Freshmarsh still 10.05am +Great White Egret. 3.Y-br.Wblrs Holkham Pines +Hawfinch flew west

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL 1ml SE of Waxham still 10.03am by coast path just north of pipe dump in trees near fence TG.451.254

Norfolk Siberian Chiffchaff Great Yarmouth in south section of cemetery at 9am

Norfolk 2.Common Cranes north of Clippesby still

Norfolk DUSKY WARBLER still Overstrand at Cromer Golf Course 1ml west of clifftop car park on large bracken-covered hill tho elusive

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Waxham still 100yds north of Shangri-la chalet in sycamores by coast path at 9.49am

Norfolk Richard's Pipit Burnham Overy Dunes flew west over Gun Hill at 9.25am

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Burnham Overy Dunes still on Gun Hill near lone sycamore at 9.05am (Ring Ouzel near track north of A149)

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL 1ml SE of Waxham still by coast path just north of pipe dump in trees near fence at 9.12am

Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Holkham Pines by main path 300yds west of Meals House

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL Holkham Pines by main path 300yds west of Meals House

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Holme Dunes NWT in sycamores in car park still 9.10am

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL fem/1w.male Holme still behind village car park at 9.08am tho elusive

Norfolk RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL Waxham just NW of Shangri-la chalet in copse by fence at 8.52am TG.440.265

Norfolk Hawfinch Norwich in Lakenham flew NW over Lakenfields early morning

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Holkham Pines west of Meals House

Norfolk Osprey Breydon Water at east end at 8.38am

Norfolk 2.Short-eared Owls Mundesley flew in off sea at 8.25am then flew south

Norfolk no sign of Red-flanked Bluetail Holme in village car park by 8.25am

Norfolk Great White Egret flew north over East Wretham Heath at 8.05am

Norfolk Pallas's Warbler Holme NOA still in sycamores by bird observatory

Norfolk Siberian Chiffchaff y'day 1.5mls NNE of Wells at East Hills late a'noon TF.925.458

Norfolk probable Siberian Chiffchaff Holme NOA trapped +ringed

Norfolk Great Grey Shrike 1ml NNW of Holt by Cley Road by stream near Lawn Farm entrance at 7.35am

Norfolk Short-eared Owl Blakeney Point