Cries of the Laughing Goose
Posted: January 27th 2019
by Andrew Bloomfield
Of all our winter wildfowl that descend here every year it is the White-fronted Goose that traditionally attracts most attention from visiting birdwatchers. This smaller relative of the common feral Greylag Goose appears annually in Norfolk at only a handful of regular sites and the marshes of Holkham have long been famed for attracting a flock.
Travellers from the North
Posted: January 11th 2019
by Andrew Bloomfield
The late autumn and early part of the winter has been mild and dry at Holkham which has consequently meant that numbers of wintering ducks on the marshes have been quite low. There has however been much interest from visiting birdwatchers due to three special species of songbird which have arrived on the reserve in recent weeks. They all have one thing very much in common; they all come from extremely cold breeding grounds in the northern extremities of the World. The most popular attraction for visitors and locals alike has been the appearance of a group of Shore Larks on the beach and developing saltmarsh between Holkham and Wells.
Far Eastern Travellers
Posted: November 07th 2018
by Andy Bloomfield
One species we truly associate with late autumn at Holkham is the Yellow-browed Warbler. It is a tiny species, barely 10cm long and weighing anything up to nine grams, slightly larger than our Goldcrest; Europe’s smallest bird. Miraculously for a bird so small it migrates here over a distance of over 3000 miles from nesting grounds in the Siberian taiga forests.
Where Have All the Red Deer Gone?
Posted: October 29th 2018
Visitors may have noticed that the Red Deer who have roamed Holkham deer park for over 10 years, are no longer to be seen. Lord Leicester explains the reasons behind the decision to sell the Holkham herd of Red Deer.
Watch out for the Birdies
Posted: August 23rd 2018
by Paul Eele, Warden, Holkham NNR
Now a regular sight in the skies over Norfolk, the Marsh Harrier was once incredibly rare bird.
Treasures and Trophies - An Artist's View
Posted: August 03rd 2018
by David Allsop, Museum Illustrator and Field to Fork Supervisor
This year’s exhibition in Holkham Hall, Treasures & Trophies, follows the footsteps of Thomas Coke on his Grand Tour in the early 18th century. Last winter I was delighted to be asked to create some artistic interpretation for the exhibition and the curators and I came up with many weird and wonderful ideas, some of which came to fruition!
An Emergence of Dragons
Posted: July 11th 2018
by Andy Bloomfield
Working on the marshes we encounter many sights and sounds, some that many people never even come close to witnessing. One of the real marvels of nature for me is seeing the abundance and variety of dragon and damsel flies that methodically hunt for smaller insect prey up and down our dykes and around our fresh water pools.
A Spring that Has finally sprung
Posted: June 20th 2018
by Andy Bloomfield
After the cold start to the spring, the weather
finally started to warm up in early May before all too quickly it all turned
very autumnal. Well, that was how it seemed as when May came to a close cold
north easterly winds and then days of sea mist set in. It did truly seem like
October on some days! Spring can be a really magical time on the reserve – not
only are most of our resident birds nesting but butterflies and flowers are
emerging and starting to bring welcome splashes of colour to the landscape.
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