Holme Bird Observatory

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Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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18th October 2026

Common Gull – Shannon Clifford

A strong north-easterly wind brough numerous sea-watchers to Holme today, especially after yesterday too. It started well with 1 Sooty Shearwater at 8.55, followed by 1 Velvet Scoter and another Sooty Shearwater at 11.08.  Just after lunch-time a Leach’s Storm Petrel was spotted and another one an hour later. The final highlight was a drake Goosander west at 15:40. There were some impressive totals for the day too, with 126 Eider, 3349 Common Gull, 1077 Black-headed Gull, 3 Bonxie, 6 Arctic Skua, 653 Wigeon and 433 Brent Geese.  Two Short-eared Owl and 2 Redpoll flew in off the sea.

To our delight, whilst sitting watching the sea, a Woodcock dropped in to the pines and started feeding along the track, completely unaware we were watching! A male Ring Ouzel was reported near NWT hides, at least 6 Brambling and 4 Redpoll were around the pines. There was a noticeable increase in Goldcrest numbers too, hopefully a good sign for tomorrow. The usual 3 Shore Lark, 2 Lapland Bunting and 2 Snow Bunting were on the beach.

Woodcock scuttling along the pine floor, before disappearing under the fence – S. Clifford

There are no moth records for today as we gave the moth trapping a break last night.

Shannon & Bee

Norfolk Bird News from Rare Bird Alert

Norfolk reported Arctic Redpoll Wells Woods at caravan park appears to be a Mealy Redpoll c52.9686,0.8407

Norfolk Gannet juv Welney WWT flew past Reedbed Hide at 2.54pm c52.5312,0.2813

Norfolk DESERT WHEATEAR fem Wells-next-the-Sea again 2.51pm just east of RNLI station on beach +showing well c52.9727,0.8518

Norfolk DESERT WHEATEAR fem Wells-next-the-Sea again 2.33pm just east of RNLI station on beach c52.9727,0.8518

Norfolk 2.Sooty S’waters flew north past California this morning 52.6804,1.7178

Norfolk DESERT WHEATEAR fem Wells-next-the-Sea still 2.21pm just east of RNLI station on beach then flew north over lifeboat slipway +lost to view behind dunesc52.9727,0.8518

Norfolk Ring Ouzel male Holme Dunes NWT near car park +hides at 2.14pm c52.9740,0.5517

Norfolk Sooty S’water flew north past Hopton-on-Sea early a’noon +Black-throated Diver c52.5368,1.7445

Norfolk 3.Sabine’s Gulls flew west Holkham at 1.44pm c52.9970,0.7958

Norfolk DESERT WHEATEAR fem Wells-next-the-Sea still 2.09pm just east of RNLI station on beach c52.9727,0.8518

Norfolk Coues’s Redpoll (form exilipes) Wells Woods in caravan park 52.9686,0.8407

Norfolk Pom Skua Sheringham flew past seawatching shelter early a’noon c52.9473,1.2073 Viewed from c52.9458,1.2069 Park at c52.9451,1.2067

Norfolk 2.Lapland Buntings Holme Dunes NWT briefly in saltmarsh near shingle ridge at 1.36pm tho elusive c52.9727,0.5676

Norfolk DESERT WHEATEAR fem Wells-next-the-Sea just east of RNLI station at 1.45pm c52.9727,0.8518

Norfolk Leach’s Petrel flew west past Holme Dunes at 1.26pm 52.9753,0.5563

Norfolk Sooty S’water flew north past Waxham at 1.19pm c52.7795,1.6188

Norfolk Storm Petrel Sheringham from The Leas at 1.05pm c52.9478,1.2083

Norfolk no further sign of Shorelark Cley NWT on island from Bishop’s Hide at 1.03pm (2.Water Pipits still) c52.9570,1.0568 Viewed from c52.9562,1.0582 Park at c52.9544,1.0567

Norfolk Snow Bunting Holme Dunes NWT still 1.03pm in dunes c52.9740,0.5690

Norfolk possible Hume’s Warbler 1ml east of Cley south of A149 at Walsey Hills NOA at 12.53pm 52.9543,1.0673: Park at 52.9546,1.0669

Norfolk Snow Bunting Holme Dunes NWT on beach just under dune line at 12.34pm 52.9753,0.5611

Norfolk Leach’s Petrel Cley Marshes NWT flew west past beach car park at 12.19pm c52.9674,1.0495 Park at c52.9652,1.0476

Norfolk Great Grey Shrike flew west over Strumpshaw Fen RSPB at 12.06pm c52.6074,1.4429 Park at c52.6071,1.4566

Norfolk 3+Shorelarks Holme Dunes still at Thornham Point near channel at 11.27am 52.9725,0.5666

Norfolk Little Auk flew north past Winterton Dunes beach car park at 10.27am c52.7179,1.6982

Norfolk Leach’s Petrel Cley Marshes NWT flew west past beach car park at 11.56am c52.9674,1.0495 Park at c52.9652,1.0476

Norfolk Sooty S’water flew east past Holme Dunes late morning 52.9753,0.5563

Norfolk Continental Coal Tit Wells Woods near Drinking Pool mid-morning c52.9744,0.8352

Norfolk Leach’s Petrel Sheringham flew west past seawatching shelter at 11.25am c52.9473,1.2073 Viewed from c52.9458,1.2069 Park at c52.9451,1.2067

Norfolk Sooty S’water Sheringham flew west past shelter c52.9469,1.2070. Park at 52.9450,1.2067. Viewed from 52.9459,1.2069

Norfolk Leach’s Petrel flew west Burnham Overy Dunes at 9.38am c52.9885,0.7717

Norfolk Iceland Gull flew east past Cromer Pier at 10.48am c52.9339,1.3014

Norfolk Hawfinch Wells Woods east of The Dell at 10.42am c52.9728,0.8429

Norfolk Grey Phal flew north Caister past Second Avenue at 10.30am c52.6625,1.7332

Norfolk Twite flew west Blakeney Point at 10.34am 52.9748,0.9721: Viewed from 52.9749,0.9726

Norfolk Sabine’s Gull juv flew SE past Walcott between 7.30-9.30am (+Sooty S’water) c52.8425,1.5012

Norfolk 2.Sooty S’waters flew north Hunstanton c52.9415,0.4835

Norfolk Sooty S’water flew north past Gorleston-on-Sea at 8am c52.5707,1.7339

Norfolk Leach’s Petrel flew west past Weybourne at 9.57am c52.9496,1.1404

Norfolk Coues’s Redpoll (form exilipes) Wells Woods near Drinking Pool at 9.45am c52.9744,0.8352

Norfolk Sooty S’water flew west past Weybourne at 9.32am c52.9496,1.1404

Norfolk Leach’s Petrel Cley Marshes NWT flew west past beach car park at 8.38am c52.9674,1.0495 Park at c52.9652,1.0476

Norfolk Shorelark Cley NWT on island from Bishop’s Hide at 8.24am c52.9570,1.0568 Viewed from c52.9562,1.0582 Park at c52.9544,1.0567

Norfolk Long-tailed Skua Cley Marshes NWT flew west past beach car park at 8.21am c52.9674,1.0495 Park at c52.9652,1.0476

Norfolk Sooty S’water Cley Marshes NWT flew west past beach car park 52.9674,1.0488 Park at 52.9652,1.0476

Norfolk Sabine’s Gull Cley Marshes NWT flew east past beach car park at 7.23am c52.9673,1.0486 Park at c52.9544,1.0563

Norfolk 2.Sooty S’waters y’day flew west past Holme Dunes between 11.37am-2.05pm 52.9753,0.5563