Holme Bird Observatory

Holme Bird Observatory is a nature reserve near Holme-next-the-Sea on the north Norfolk coast of England, run for the study and ringing of migrating birds rather than astronomy.

About Holme Bird Observatory

Managed by the Norfolk Ornithological Association, the reserve covers 5 hectares of Corsican pine woodland and scrubby sand dunes, with five bird hides for visitors and researchers. It sits within the wider 7,700-hectare North Norfolk Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest, and carries further protection as a Natura 2000 Special Protection Area, a Ramsar wetland site, and part of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

History

The observatory was founded in 1962 and has run a continuous bird ringing programme ever since, making it one of the longer-established bird observatories on the British coast.

Location & getting there

Holme Bird Observatory sits on the north Norfolk coast, next to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Holme Dunes reserve, in one of England's most protected stretches of coastline.

Visiting Holme Bird Observatory

The reserve and its bird hides are open to visitors interested in birdwatching and migration research; check the Norfolk Ornithological Association's website for current access arrangements and any entry requirements before visiting.

See your named star from here

Holme's dark, low-lying coastal setting, free of major towns nearby, makes for clear night skies once the birdwatchers have gone home; on a clear evening, it's a fitting spot to look for a named star using its coordinates from our catalogue.