Waxwing trapped and ringed! The first for 47 years

On 2nd December warden Sophie Barker trapped and ringed a Waxwing at the Bird Observatory. This is only the 3rd Waxwing to ever have been trapped at the Obs and the first since 1965 - Sophie's verdict, 'worth waiting 47 years for'. This bird, a young male, is one of a steady trickle of Waxwings that have arrived at the Obs during November and December.

Late news: CITRINE WAGTAIL 14th November

This CITRINE WAGTAIL was present late afternoon and evening on 14th November on the pools and flooded field by the track on the NWT reserve. Unfortunately, the identification was not clinched in the field, despite being strongly suspected by the visitor who found the bird. However, these photos clearly prove the identification beyond doubt. Incredibly this is the 2nd Holme record this year after the male in the Spring. To the frustration of many, especially local patchworkers, neither were twitchable and so, for all except a handful of fortunate people, the wait for a twitchable Holme Citrine Wagtail goes on. 

Whilst a late record, it is not the latest in the county: that accolade is still held by the first county record, at Welney 16th-17th November 1980 (T. Inskipp)

All photos by Dave Scott

Waxwings 31 October

A rather wind blown group of Waxwings performing well along the approach track around the Horse Paddocks by Redwell marsh

Sparrowhawk Holme NOA

Wryneck in the Wardens Garden 6 May

An unexpected bonus that dropped into the garden to feed with the nets already open and catching birds. Fortunately, when it became necessary to check the nets and process and release any birds in them the Wryneck did the decent thing and flew into the net  and was ringed asnd released alongside a male Blackcap, a Chaffinch and a Greenfinch.Having already fed for somer time on the lawn, once released the Wryneck flerw sttraight out of the garden and out of sight.. Photos by Ray Roche

Smew and Pintail 14th February.

Redhead Smew 14th February. A very flighty bird that spent the day moving between both ends of the Broadwater. A scarce bird for Holme, but part of a recent influx to the county that saw 2 Redheads also present on the broadwater on the 7th and 9th February

Drake Pintail 14th February. An unusual visitor to the Broadwater, lingering over several days on the pools in front of the NOA Car Park hide

Posted by Ray Roche

2011 - another great year at HBO

Reflecting on the amazing 2010 ( http://noaphotoalbum.blogspot.com/2010/12/2010-what-year.html ), it seemed hard to believe that 2011 could have anywhere near as much quality. However, despite poorer numbers of common migrants and scarcities, especially in autumn, it was yet another excellent year rarities wise, with the following stand-out highlights:

COLLARED FLYCATCHER (2nd for Holme)

Hume's Warbler (1+, 2nd consecutive year)

Red-flanked Bluetail (2nd for Holme)

Desert Wheatear (2nd for Holme)

Dusky Warbler (the first for over a decade)

Caspian Tern

White-tailed Eagle (2nd for Holme)

Ross's Goose

'Northern' Harrier still (now accepted)

This list is not to mention the usual scarcities including Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike, Honey Buzzard, Rough-legged Buzzard, Wood Warbler, Sabine's Gull, Long-tailed Skua and so on.

2012 is the observatory's 50th year! Let's hope it is yet another good one to celebrate this landmark!