Holme Bird Observatory
for as little as 14p per day.
13th May 2025

Hawthorn Blossom
It was another clear and warm day here at Holme Bird Observatory with a brisk ENE. Too windy for ringing but a good day to catch up on practical tasks around the Obs. We cleaned out all the hides, and done lots and lots of sweeping! The seawatching hide is inhabited by lots of very busy spiders and had gotten very cobwebby recently so just needed a good brush! It’s a pleasant place to spend time sheltering from the weather to do some seawatching, especially in autumn.
With the clear weather recently it has generally been quiet for birds here on the reserve. The Wood Sandpiper was still at Thornham Pools. A single Cattle Egret drifted over the grazing marsh in the morning. A Common Tern flew over the Broad Water. A few Sand Martin have been circling around the NOA car park and a few Swallow have came through east and a single House Martin.
A good day for moths today with 6 Cinnabar, 6 Treble Lines, 1 Privet Hawk, 4 Flame Shoulder, 1 Small Elephant Hawk, 5 Muslin, 1 Common Groundling, 2 Mottled Rustic, 2 Northern Drab, 1 Heart and Dart, 1 Banded Hedge Grey and 2 Vine’s Rustic. The highlight was our first Privet Hawk Moth of the year! As the name suggests they use Privet, but also Ash, Lilac and Guelder-rose. What a moth!! They are the largest resident Hawk Moth.
Privet Hawk, showing a bit of pink & black striped hindwing!
The Tamarisk is a really good butterfly hotspot to check, and today alone I had Common Blue, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Brown Argus, Wall Brown, Red Admiral and Green Hairstreak all landing on it!
Red Admiral on the Tamarisk outside the Obs
Assistant Warden – Shannon Clifford
NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT
Norfolk 6.Black Terns Hockwold Washes still mid a’noon +Little Gull still c52.4504,0.5245. Park at 52.4481,0.5287
Norfolk Grey-headed Wagtail male Cley NWT still 2.55pm east of East Bank at north end of The Serpentine with cattle c52.9584,1.0665. Park at 52.9549,1.0647
Norfolk 2.Velvet Scoters Weybourne still on sea off Weybourne Camp this morning c52.9517,1.1301. Park at 52.9485,1.1398
Norfolk 2.Wood Sands Cley NWT still on Pat’s Pool from Bishop’s Hide c52.9578,1.0558. Park at c52.9544,1.0567. Viewed from 52.9560,1.0583
Norfolk 6.Black Terns Hockwold Washes still 1.51pm c52.4504,0.5245. Park at 52.4481,0.5287
Norfolk 1+Grey-headed Wagtail (male +probable fem) Cley NWT still 12.50pm east of East Bank at The Serpentine with cattle (+2.Wood Sands) c52.9584,1.0665. Park at 52.9549,1.0647
Norfolk 8.Black Terns Hockwold Washes tho mobile c52.4504,0.5245. Park at 52.4481,0.5287
Norfolk 1+Grey-headed Wagtail (male +probable fem) Cley NWT east of East Bank at The Serpentine with cattle (+2.Wood Sands) c52.9584,1.0665. Park at 52.9549,1.0647
Norfolk 6.Black Terns Hockwold Washes at 10.56am c52.4504,0.5245. Park at 52.4481,0.5287
Norfolk 5.Black Terns Hockwold Washes at 10.37am +2.drk.Garganey Little Gull c52.4504,0.5245. Park at 52.4481,0.5287
Norfolk RED-FOOTED FALCON 1s.male Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe still 10am c52.5284,1.6005
Norfolk Little Gull Hockwold Washes at 9.19am c52.4504,0.5245. Park at 52.4481,0.5287
Norfolk 5.Temminck’s Stints Cley NWT still on Pat’s Pool (+6.Wood Sands) c52.9578,1.0558. Park at 52.9544,1.0566