Spring catch-up

A small selection of recent birds from Holme. With much work being done recently to improve access arrangements the birds haven't been forgotten - they just haven't posed for the camera! Recent personal highlights have included 2 spring Arctic Skuas and Iceland Gull past the Dunes, 2 Cranes circling almost over the Obs and Ring Ouzels and the Grasshopper Warbler pictured below reeling and posing in the dunes. Words and Pictures Ray Roche.

10th April Black Tailed Godwit - 1 of a flock of over 50 that wheeled over Redwell Marsh in afternoon sunlight.


Gadwalll 10th April Redwell Marsh

Grasshopper Warbler at Holme Dunes

Collar-ringed Pink Footed Goose at Holme Marsh

15th February. 1 of 2 collar-ringed Pink Feet on Holme Marsh amongst a mixed flock of several hundred Brent and Pink Feet. Collar reading LBI. Also present collar-ringed bird TUB. 2 different collar-ringed Pink Feet located at Abbey Farm, Flitcham later in the week. Photo Ray Roche.

Waxwings Holme 6th December

With attention focused on the sea in the morning, finding Waxwings around the car park was a pleasant surprise for the afternoon. 1 individual posed on the wires briefly, before flying off in the direction of the Firs and the Obs and being joined by a further individual in flight. 5 minutes later either another Waxwing, or 1 of the original 2 birds, landed on the same stretch of wires before flying off in the same direction. At least 6 Waxwings seen in Snettisham Coastal Park the following morning so all part of a fresh influx?

Photo Ray Roche

Firecrest retrapped Holme NOA 28th November

Surprising what you find when you open the nets , not expecting to catch too much ........

Photo Ray Roche

Great Grey Shrike and Stonechats 7th to 11th November

Pair of Stonechats. Pictures taken in the dunes immediately behind the Observatory.

Great Grey Shrike. 7th-8th November. Last seen heading out to the saltmarsh and Thornham Harbour. Pictures taken in very dull and windy conditions.

Pictures Ray Roche

Olive-backed Pipit

This well-marked OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT was a superb find by visiting birder N. Brooks at 4:00pm on the 31st October. Bettered only by the 1st year female BLACK-THROATED THRUSH (see descripion from one of the finders Chris Mills here) in rarity value within the recording area during this exceptional late autumn fall, it was only present for c. 2 minutes in brambles underneath the pines just north of the NOA observatory before being flushed by two dogs and sadly couldn't be relocated. Picture © N. Brooks. Words by Connor D. Rand

Firecrest

The first Firecrest of the autumn was trapped today (1st November)