Wed 18th Mar 26

A much nicer day today, at last a light breeze and some sunshine.

Mike started off up at the farm where the Corn Bunting was showing well again today, but the only bird of note around the bushes was a Firecrest in the Feeding Stn.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, 2 Greylags, c150 Wigeon, c80 Teal, C30 Shoveler, 8 Mallard, 6 Shelduck, 29 Avocet, c20 Curlew, 14 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 2 B T Godwits, 2 Oystercatcher, c50 Blk H Gulls, 2 Med Gulls, 1 Red Kite, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Richard & Mike's walk to Sandy Pt. added 8 Purple Sands and a Barn Owl (NFY).

Reports from today:

Mike O'Hanlon

09:31 Corn Bunting at the end of the lane down to the manure heap at the farm.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

12:13 Barn Owl on the back hedge to the right of hide towards the golf course.

Richard Jeffree

12:25 4 Purple Sands, Sandy pt.

12:30 Now 8 Purps.

 

Tues 17th Mar 26

A walk around the Approach Rd and over the road produced very little, a few Canada and Greylag Geese with loads of Herring Gulls on the approach road marsh, 2 couple of Song Thrush in song plus the usual Tits and Robins.

From the hde: 6 Greylags, 4 Canada Geese (+1 hybrid), Wigeon & Teal (as of late), c30 Shoveler, 8 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 2+ Curlew 19 Avocet, 10 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatcher, 2 Snipe, 1 Blk T Godwit, 50 Blk H Gulls, 2 Med Gulls,1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Pied Wags, RJ/MO'H/MR/LH at.al.

On the way out a Chiffchaff was calling from the brook hedge near the windpump.

 

Mon 16th Mar 26

A nicer morning but a walk around the site turned up very little, just a Goldcrest and a couple of singing Song Thrushes was about it for the small stuff, Greylag and Canada Geese, c150 Herring Gulls and 1 LBB were on the Approach Rd. marsh

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, c150 Wigeon, c50 Teal, 30 Shoveler, 16 Shelduck, 10 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 21 Avocet, 20+ Curlew, 12 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Snipe, 1 Blk T Godwit, 2 Lt. Grebe, 95 Blk H Gulls 3 Med Gulls, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chinese Water Deer. RJ/MO'H/MR.

The 2 Lt. Grebes in front of the hide seemed to be thinking about nest building, probably not the best place but who knows.

Spring is nearly here?, Richard Jeffree© 

 

Sun 15th Mar 26

From the hide:  9 Canada Geese, 162 Wigeon, 60+ Teal, 22 Shoveler, 9 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 20+ Curlew, 15 Avocet, 14 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Lt Grebe, 80+ Blk H Gulls, 2 Med Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 1 LBB Gull,  1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MR et.al.

A single Purple Sand was on the sluice on the way out.

 

Sat 14th Mar 26

Another three birds added to the year list today with a Firecrest and a Fieldfare first thing from Brian Combes and a S E Owl late afternoon by Matt Lonsdale.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese (+1 hybrid), 2 Greylag, c150 Wigeon, c150 Teal, 20+ Shoveler, 14 Mallard, 11 Shelduck, 7 Gadwall, 31 Avocet, 30+ Curlew, 16 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, 106 Bk H Guls, 4 Med Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, 4 Pied Wags, 2 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk RJ/TR/MR.

Brian Combes

07:51 Haven: Firecrest by sewage works gate.

10:53 Haven: Firecrest by golf course workshop

18:11 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via the farm this morning included: 2 firecrest, 1 Fieldfare (in the dell then north), 2 redwing (north), 1 stonechat (south of sluice), 1 corn bunting (singing by east paddock, first bird singing of the year), 1 grey wag (again by manure/straw pile on bridleway), 3 chiff (2 singing), 4 goldcrest, 2 purple sand (French Point), 10 pied wag, 28+ linnet (still a flock of 20+ on arable), 1 marsh harrier, 3 med gull, 2 mipit (north), 2 sparrowhawk, 5 Cetti’s (singing), 4 oystercatcher, 3 reed warbler, 7 hare, 33 avocet, 29 shoveler, 3 song thrush (singing), 37 curlew, 2 greenfinch, 5 buzzard (3 in a kettle). (18 species in song.).

Corn bunting this morning (one of my favourite songsters).
Photo Brian Combes©

Matt Lonsdale

16:36 S E Owl on gate across brook to north of hide.

 

Fri 13th Mar 26

A much nicer day today but still with a chilly wind. The high point of this morning was probably the arrival of a third Peregrine who was soon shown the exit by our resident pair, who had earlier given a woodpigeon the fright of it's life when it managed to escape in a cloud of feathers.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, 2 Greylags, c200 Wigeon, c150 Teal, 30+ Shoveler,  8 Mallard, 7 Gadwall, 5 Shelduck, 43 Curlew, 23 Avocet, 17 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Snipe, 1 Blk T Godwit, 140 Blk H Gulls, c40 Herring Gulls, 2 Med Guls, 2 LBB Gulls, 1 GBB Gull, 3 Peregrine, 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, RJ/MO'H/DC/MR 

Reports from today

Simon Cox

17:19 Afternoon visit: Canada G 10, Greylag 13, Shelduck 4, Mallard 5, Teal 35, Wigeon 60, Shoveler 25, Gadwall 3, Lapwing 18, Avocet 23, Oystercatcher 2, Curlew 17, Kestrel 1, Peregrine 1, Med Gull 1, LBBG 2, Herring Gull 100, B-h Gull 100, Chaffinch 2 in Feeding Station.

 

Thurs 12th Mar 26

A very blustery morning with the wind forecast to increase throughout the day so we decided to find some shelter in the hide. A  GBB Gull was noted along the front and a lone Brent Goose was making hard work of heading down the coast into the wind.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese (1 hybrid), c300 Wigeon, c250 Teal, 30+ Shoveler, 9 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 24 Avocet, 16 Lapwings, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, 72 Blk H Gulls, 2 Med Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MR