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-19 Update Monday 12th April 2021

Further to the lifting of restrictions on Monday 12th April 2021 the NOA reserves and car parks remain open to visitors but hides remain closed. We are hoping to be able to open hides to visitors on Monday 17th May 2021 in line with expected changes to government restrictions, and will post further updates on this page prior to the changes commencing.
We continue to thank all our members and visitors for their patience, and for continuing to keep our staff and visitors safe.

Holme Bird Observatory Friday 1st January 2021

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR MEMBERS AND WEB VISITORS!!

A brief seawatch today produced 1000 Common Scoter and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, while on the grazing marshes over 3000 Pink-feet were counted. A flock of 150 Golden Plover, a Kingfisher, Water Rail, 2 Stonechats, a Bullfinch and a single Twite at Thornham Harbour were also of interest.

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 4.Tundra Bean Geese Honing at Lock Road at midday then flew north NR28 9PJ
Norfolk Cattle Egret y'day Welney WWT still +Great White Egret still
Norfolk Velvet Scoter flew past Hunstanton Cliffs
Norfolk Snow Bunting Cley NWT still +4.Russian White-fronted Geese
Norfolk Iceland Gull juv Weybourne still 1.35pm on shingle ridge 1/4ml west of beach car park
Norfolk no sign of 1w.male.Eastern Black Redstart (form phoenicuroides/ rufiventris) Snettisham RSPB by car park entrance 1.18-1.48pm PE31 7RA
Norfolk Slav Grebe Ormesby Broad still from Rollesby Bridge at 1.01pm +Bittern
Norfolk 6.Taiga Bean Geese still Cantley Marshes RSPB tho elusive
Norfolk Great White Egret Horsey south of wind pump
Norfolk Waxwing still 12.50pm Kelling Heath 400yds NE of main Holgate Hill car park on rosehips by metal gate +showing well
Norfolk 3.Russian White-fronted Geese flew SE over Cley NWT
Norfolk 3.Tundra Bean Geese Horsey in field 500yds south of Horsey Mill
Norfolk 82.Russian White-fronted Geese Holkham Freshmarsh still
Norfolk 46.Snow Buntings still Holkham Bay east of Holkham Gap in roped-off area +Long-tailed Duck 3.Velvet Scoters TF.899.460
Norfolk Y-br.Wblr Snettisham RSPB near car park
Norfolk repeat: Eastern Black Redstart (form phoenicuroides/ rufiventris) 1w.male Snettisham RSPB by car park entrance (for 2nd day) PE31 7RA
Norfolk Eastern Black Redstart (form phoenicuroides/ rufiventris) 1w.male Snettisham RSPB by car park entrance
Norfolk 10.Cattle Egrets still Holkham south of A149 in field just west of Burnham Road at 11am
Norfolk Great White Egret west of Norwich still at Colney GPs in paddock by Chapel Break Road at 11.15am
Norfolk unconfirmed report of Eastern Black Redstart (form phoenicuroides/ rufiventris) Snettisham
Norfolk Little Stint ad still Snettisham RSPB on The Wash at 10.27am
Norfolk Iceland Gull juv Weybourne still 11.09am on shingle ridge 1/4ml west of beach car park
Norfolk Great White Egret west of Norwich at Earlham Marsh at 10.55am
Norfolk Waxwing still Kelling Heath 400yds NE of main Holgate Hill car park on rosehips by metal gate at 10.45am
Norfolk Iceland Gull juv Kelling still on beach near pillbox at 9.46am
Norfolk Great White Egret Hickling Broad still +5.Common Cranes
Norfolk Smew redhead Filby Broad still on west side tho distant
Norfolk 4.Velvet Scoters Cley flew west past beach car park
Norfolk 61.Russian White-fronted Geese y'day Buckenham Marshes RSPB