Wed 20th Nov 24

Just a short visit today, a stop at the chippings lay-by on the way in showed 100+ Lapwing and 6 Golden Plover on the arable and Greylag and Canada Geese out on the marsh (Pink's not seen).

4 Turnstone were on the sluice with the gull flock, lots of Cormorant and a few R T Divers offshore.

From the hide: Much the same as yesterday mainly Wigeon and Teal, 3 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 1 Blk T Godwit, 1 Snipe and 1 Kingfisher that landed in front of the for a few seconds, promising as the water level in the brook is rising. RJ/MR

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

12:05 Woodcock off the sea towards the scrape just north of sluice and a R T Diver close in, in the last 15 mins.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

13:15 Purple Sand on sluice.

 

Tues 19th Nov 24

A quick visit to the hide during a break in the rain showed that the Pinkfeet were still around, at first on the arable with Greylags, then on the marsh behind the scrape before flying out and dropping onto the marsh on the other side of the road. 

From the hide: 20+ Greylag, 8 Pink-footed Geese (on the arable), 170 Wigeon, 120 Teal, 4 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 14 Lapwing, c40 Blk H Gulls, 6 Herring Gulls, 1 LBB, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel.

Reports from today

Pete Loud

12:42 Hour seawatch from about 11AM, fairly quiet but lots of Cormorants flying past and on the sea, 1 drake Red-breasted Merganser close north, 3 Common Scoter on the sea close in , 1 Shelduck, 1 adult Med Gull, and several Red-throats on the sea.

 

Mon 18th Nov 24

A mid afternoon visit was well worthwhile with 7 Whooper Swans (2 ad 5 juvs.) sitting on the sea off the sluice and an male Pintail on the scrape.

Heavy crop in poor light

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

13:35 With Pete Loud this morning- - along sea wall from the sluice to raised tee 7+ R T Divers, 1st yr. Gannet (close in), Purple Sandpiper on the beach north of the sluice with Turnstone. From the hide - 8 Pinkies on the marsh, Kingfisher, Sprawk, Water Rail, suspected 1st. w Y L Gull, 200+ Greylags, 200 + Wigeon, Avocet and usual other water fowl. No sign of Snow Bunting.

13:57 +3 Little Egrets on Leon’s, 3 Golden Plover over arable, 4 Curlew on marsh.

Sun 17th Nov 24

 Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

09:18 8 pink feet still present same spot ca 50 stock dove 8 fieldfare over.

09:53 2 purple sands on rocks south of french pt.

11:19 Pinkfoots now on scrape.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Simon Cox

14:32 Haven count this am: R-t Diver 1, Grey Heron 1, Cormorant 2, Brent 6 (on scrape), Pink-feet 8, Greylag 285, Canada 1, Shelduck 2, Mallard 2, Teal 45, Wigeon 190, Shoveler 6, Avocet 1, Lapwing 60, Blackwit 2, Curlew 8, Turnstone 2, Water Rail 2, Moorhen 5, Buzzard 1, Cetti’s W 1, Stonechat 1. Also Purple Sand 2 (RJ), Kingfisher 1 (JS), Bearded Tit 2 (RJ).

 

Sat 16th Nov 24

I stopped at the chippings lay-by on my way to site this morning to find the 8 Pink-footed Geese found by Matt Lonsdale earlier (a site year tick) still out on the marsh.

With the tide high it was quiet along the front, with a few Red T Divers & Cormorants still offshore, otherwise 4 Stonechat & a Rock Pipit was about it.

From the hide: 14 Brent Geese, 3 Greylag, 120+ Wigeon, c30 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Curlew, 2 Blk T Godwit, 1 Avocet, 2 Stonechat, 1 Kingfisher.

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

08:58 8 Pink-footed Geese on marsh from chippings lay-by.

Steve Entwistle

12:55 8 Pink-footed Geese in marsh from inside chippings yard at layby.

14:59 Seawatch with P Loud at haven. 4 Red-throated Divers (2 on sea), 2 Wigeon (flypass), 1 Great Crested Grebe (flypass), 20+ Cormorants.

 

Fri 15th Nov 24

A walk along the front to the Raised Tee was very pleasant this morning, 5 Turnstone were on the sluice and a Red-throated Diver was sitting on the sea just off the first pillbox, a single Purple Sand was on the rocks at French Point before being flushed by the rising tide. Continuing towards Frinton it was evident that quite a lot of RTD's were fishing offshore along with several Cormorant and 6 Curlew flew along the marsh.

 Joined by Dave Cummings at Sandy Point we walked on to the Raised Tee with only a few Mippits and Pied Wags noted. Thankfully on the return the Snow Bunting that has been with us for five days now was re-located along the track between the GC dump and the Boardwalk (Bluethroat Trail).

From the hide things were much the same, plus a Kingfisher showed well on reeds around the pond and the Water Rail put in another appearance PL/DC/MO'H/DG/MR et.al.

Reports from today

Dick Groves

12:12 S E Owl nr sluice.

 

Thurs 14th Nov 24

Two Purple Sands were on the Boating Club rocks first thing, then a walk to Sandy Point (joined half way by Richard) couldn't find the Snow Bunting, just Mippits a Rock Pipit and a few Cormorants offshore. Later in the morning sitting in the hide Peter Staniforth said he had seen the Snow Bunting on his walk in from Frinton, near the Raised Tee so Richard headed off toward Frinton, (results below).

From the hide: 6 Greylag, c100 Wigeon, c30 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 3 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, c20 Lapwing, 5 Blk T Godwit, 1 Avocet, 1 Curlew, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. JS/RJ/PS/MR

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

11:51 Very close in Red-throated Diver French pt.

11:59 Flew  north.

12:33 Snow Bunting still start of bluethroat trail /GC flighty.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©