Saturday, 25 April 2026

 


Sat 25th Apr 26


Reports from today


Matt Lonsdale

06:22 Swift south over dell

07:28 Common Sand on scrape, 6 Sandwich Terns circled and headed north. + another 2 S T and a Gannet north. Rest of reserve fairly quiet with many breeding birds now in-situ

16:12 Whinchat still present


Brian Combes

09:33 Haven: White Wag golf course.

10:24 Haven: Whinchat farm, easternmost paddock.

17:37 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via the farm this morning included: 1 whinchat, 1 white wag (back of golf course), 27 whimbrel (on golf course first thing), 1 common sandpiper (scrape), 8 sandwich tern, 1 gannet (north), 8 Med gull, 1 swift (over sewage works, first of year for me), 2 house martin (over arable, first of year for me), 1 cuckoo (singing), 3 sand martin, 29 swallow, 3 goldcrest (1 singing), 2 corn bunting (singing on farm arable), 6 blackcap (singing), 7 lesser whitethroat (singing), 8 chiff (singing), 12 whitethroat (singing), 2 song thrush (singing), 12 Cetti’s (singing), 6 reed warbler (singing), 7 sedge warbler (singing), 2 greenfinch, 2 turnstone, 2 buzzard, 2 sparrowhawk, 11 linnet, 4 oystercatcher, 13 avocet, 1 brent goose, 4 hare.


Pete Loud

10:57 Wood Sandpiper on pool from the hide, pair of Pochard briefly landed on scrape.




12:36 2 Hobby over southern end of Golf Course




Friday, 24 April 2026

 


Fri 24th Apr 26


Reports from today


Richard Jeffree

10:01 Greenshank on pond.

10:08 2nd bird both flew north

11:01 2 Green Hairstreaks behind hide.

11:20 Fulmar high towards Frinton.


Mike O'Hanlon

10:11 1 bird back on front edge of scrape.

12:31 This morning from the hide (10 - 11am with RJ)  2 Greenshanks, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Corn Bunting, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 6+ Med gulls, 16 Avocets, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Cormorants, 4 Canada geese, 7 Shelducks, 4 Greylag, 5 Mallard, 8 Lapwing, 55 B H Gulls,  + 2 Green Hairstreaks on compound bushes

Walk across the marsh to Frinton beach huts) 8 Corn buntings. 1 Fulmar, usual Reed and Sedge Warblers, as well as several Reed Buntings, 11 Whimbrel (4 on golf course), 4 Oystercatchers, 3 Purple sandpipers (French Point)


Paul Gildersleve

16:49 4, Whimbrel to the right of the hide.



Thursday, 23 April 2026



Thurs 23rd Apr 26


 Richard started the day with a Green Sandpiper (NFY) over the road, plus 1 Greylag , 2 Shelduck, Herring & Blk H Gulls, 2 LBB's 1 GBB, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Lt. Grebe, 2+ Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, 2 Swallows and some Linnets, but otherwise not much new happening around the site MO'H/MR.

From the hide:  3+ Canada Geese, 15 Shelduck, 10+ Mallard, 12 Avocet, 10+ Lapwing, 5 Whimbrel, 2 Oystercatcher, c60 Blk H Gulls, 2 Med Gulls, 1 Lt. Egret, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MO'H/MR et.al.


Reports from today


Richard Jeffree

08:40 Green Sandpiper on pool over road


Mike O'Hanlon

09:31 Green Sandpiper still on right of pool over the road + 1 Whimbrel.


Matt Turner

14:14 Male Wheatear in pillbox meadow, 3 adult Med Gulls on scrape and Whimbrel on rocks at French point with a single Purple Sand. nearby.

14:30 c20 mixed Whimbrel/Curlew just came in over golf course heading towards back marsh.



Wednesday, 22 April 2026

 


Wed 22nd Apr 26


An interesting if annoying start for Pete Loud this morning, see below.

Much the same again today with lots of bird song from the carpark bushes with all the usual culprit's, Chiffs, Blackcaps, Common & Lesser Whitethroats, Cetti's Warbler, etc.

From the hide: 3+ Canada Geese, 9 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 2 Teal, 12 Avocet, 8 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, c40 Blk H Gulls, 2 Med Gulls, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. PL/MR


Reports from today


Pete Loud

13:04 9:30,this morning on the shallow pool over the road at the Haven was what i am almost certain was an American Lesser Golden Plover, with no scope with me and no other birders about I decided to walk back to the car and get my telescope, but unfortunately upon my return the bird had obviously flown off and couldn’t be relocated.



Tuesday, 21 April 2026

 


Tues 21st Apr 26


A short visit for me today, didn't like the chilly wind but nice in the sun. most of the early migrants seem to be settling in with Chiffs, Blackcaps, Whitethroat all over and a nice group of Greenfinch in the Dell.

From the hide: 2 Canada Geese, 14 Shelduck, 8+ Mallard, 14 Avocet, 10 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Bar T Godwit (earlier SC), c60 Blk H Gulls, 2 Med Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler. RJ/MO'H/MR.


Reports from today


Simon Cox

17:12 From the hide this morning: Lt Egret 1, Cormorant 1, Canada G 2, Shelduck 14, Mallard 10, Avocet 15, Lapwing 6, Bar-tail 1 (circled scrape but not seen to land), Oystercatcher pair mating, Med Gull 2, B-h Gull 80, LBBG 2, H Gull 12, Song Thrush 2 in dell, Y Wagtail 1, Linnet 8, Swallow 2, Reed Bunting 1 male, Buzzard 1, usual warblers.



Monday, 20 April 2026

 


Mon 20th Apr 26


Reports from today


Mike O'Hanlon

This morning at the farm - nothing of note other than a Red Kite over and a distant Cuckoo calling, west of the farm woods

From the hide (with RJ) - 8 Avocets, 1 Sedge warbler, 1 Little egret, 3 Black-tailed godwits, 4 Greylag, 2 Canada geese, 1 Yellow wagtail, 46 Black headed gulls, 2 Mediterranean gulls, 1 Grey heron, 10 Shelducks, 10 Lapwings, 1 Kestrel, 1 Snipe, 2 Oystercatchers

Walk across marsh up to Sandy Point and back (with RJ) 2 Corn buntings, numerous Sedge, Reed warblers and buntings, 2 Oystercatchers on the rocks (north of French Point), 2 Wheatears along sea wall.


Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©




Sunday, 19 April 2026

 


Sun 19th Apr 26


Reports from today


Mike O'Hanlon

09:50 Lesser Whitethroat to the south of raised platform in brambles.


Richard Jeffree

11:07 Cuckoo seen well back of scrape along hedge.

11:26 Whinchat still present nr concrete bridge.