Sun 20th Sept 26

From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 134 Greylag, c150 Teal, 16+ Shoveler, 6 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 1 Wigeon, 5 Cormorant, 51 Lapwing, 19 Curlew, 13 Avocet, 4 Blk T Godwits (incl. the colour ringed bird), 3 Snipe, 1 Raven, 1 S E Owl, 1 Hobby, 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 10+ Pied Wags, 6+ Yellow Wags, 2 Wheatear. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR.

Reports from today 

Matt Lonsdale

08:27 SEO offshore from sluice going south.

08:35 Came in/off- was behind sewage works.

Pete Loud

13:35 From the hide this morning,1 Raven, Hobby & Short-eared Owl, 13 Avocet, 6 Yellow Wagtail. Walk back to car park, 4 Clouded Yellow and a Wall Butterfly.(RJ,MR,M O ‘H,PL).

 

Sat 19th Sept 26

Reports from today

Steve Grimwade

07:33 Hobby in off at Frinton and south over golf course at 7.30am

Matt Lonsdale

07:35 No sign of Osprey HH but Arctic skua south.

Pete Loud

10:22 Another rather disappointing seawatch from the shelter this morning 8-10 am, 1 Gannet north, Hobby south, 7 Sandwich Tern & a group of 6 Terns feeding far offshore for a while before moving off south, identified as Little Terns after much debate.(RJ,MO’H,PL).

 

Fri 18th Sept 26

From the hide: 116 Greylags, 150+ Teal, 11 Shoveler, 6+ Shelduck, 5 Mallard, 1 Wigeon, 5 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, c30 Curlew, 14 Lapwing, 12 Avocet, 5 Blk T Godwit, 1 Snipe, Lots of Gulls & Lapwings on the arable behind the plough, 5 Wheatear, Pied Wags, Swallows (less than of late). 5 Buzzards, 2 Kestrel. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR et.al. 

Reports from today

Brian Combes

07:14 Haven: G W Egret north.

08:44 Haven: 2 cattle egret with cows SW of scrape.

11:08 Haven: redstart still in hedge by manure heap tho very elusive.

17:49 Haven this morning included: 1 great white egret (north), 2 cattle egret, 1 redstart, 1400++ house martin (south; spectacular movement starting at 07:00, significantly easing after 09:00 - some very high, some skimming the ground, with a few very large groups; at times birds gathering in swirling flocks before moving on), 120+ swallow (south), 3 sand martin (south), 135+ mipit (75 south, 60+ feeding on arable), 2 grey wag (south), 1 yellow wag (over), 2 little egret (north), 1 grey heron (north), 1 whinchat (south of boardwalk), 2 wheatear, 2 stonechat (1 golf course, 1 farm paddocks), 13 chiff (1 singing), 2 willow warbler, 2 blackcap, 2 lesser whitethroat, 2 greenfinch, 21 linnet (south), 2 great spotted woodpecker, 6 Cetti’s (singing), 1 buzzard, 14 curlew, 11 avocet, 3 black-tailed godwit, 2 Chinese muntjac.

Graham Sutton

16:50 Just for the record, seawatching from the shelter 0730-0900 was quiet (3 Wigeon, 6 Dunlin S; 3 Sandwich Terns N) but bird of the day was  House Martin with approx 2000 S (along the seafront & also low over sea).

 

Thurs 17th Sept 26

After giving up on another very quiet seawatch Richard picked up a Caspian Gull just inside the carpark, unfortunately it flew off shortly after it was found PL/RJ/MO'H. 

From the hide: c80 Greylags, c150 Teal, 21 Shoveler, 7 Shelduck, 1 Wigeon, 4 Cormorant, c30 Lapwing, 12 Avocet, 11 Curlew, 3 Blk T Godwit (incl YN/YW (E)), Blk H Gulls, 2 Wheatear (on marsh to right of hide), Pied Wags and a few Swallows

No sign of the Shrike this morning just 2 Stonechat, 1 Whinchat and 1 Wheatear on the walk to French Pt. RJ/MO'H/MR et.al.

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

13:34 Some Caspo's can be quite tricky not this individual classic 1st w.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

 

Wed 16th Sept 26

Reports from today

Brian Combes

08:07 Haven: Red-backed Shrike 100m south of board walk.

19:17 The Red-backed Shrike this morning. First for me at The Haven.

Photo Brian Combes©

12:45 Haven: Redstart in hedge going north from farm heap on bridleway, typically furtive.

13:03 Now Two.

19:12 Haven this morning: 

1 red-backed shrike (1st autumn bird - lovely surprise and very glad it stuck around for people), 2 redstart (1 very nice adult male and 1 female type - together in hedge by farm manure heap though very elusive), 4 whinchat, 2 stonechat, 5 wheatear, 1 goldcrest, 1 sedge warbler, 205+ swallow (south), 62+ house martin (south), 266+ mipit (216+ south, 50+ feeding on arable), 1 grey wag (south), 2 skylark (south), 2 chaffinch (south), 6 reed bunting, 12 pied wag, 7 chiff (2 singing), 2 willow warbler, 1 whitethroat, 2 blackcap, 5 Cetti’s (singing), 1 green woodpecker, 79+ linnet (60+ on arable), 2 sparrowhawk, 5 buzzard (4 drifting very high SW), 2 great spotted woodpecker. 

Scrape/marsh:12 avocet, 2 black-tailed godwit, 1 snipe, 34 curlew, 1 ruff, 1 grey heron, 4 shelduck.

Pete Loud

08:34 Juv Shrike still showing on brambles just north of Simons net rides, viewable from seawall.

09:31 Red-backed Shrike still showing well from seawall.

Richard Jeffree

09:43 3 male Stonechat, blue throat trail.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

19:01 Went back for seconds this afternoon had it all to myself for a while.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Steve Entwistle

12:16 Shrike still showing, flighty & mobile, 1 Whinchat.

Mike O'Hanlon

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

13:27 Guillemot swimming close past Haven cafe now.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Matt Lonsdale

19:12 R B Shrike still present 18:55-19:10 in reedbed brambles opp. French point.

 

Tues 15th Sept 26

As I arrived Pete, Mike & Richard were just giving up on a very poor seawatch, and the carpark bushes were not much better, the only thing of note was the continual passage of Swallows heading south.

On the way to the hide a Wheatear was on the boating club rocks and a single Bar T Godwit passed close offshore plus a large flock of Meadow Pipits were along the front. The small wooded area just inside the kissing gate and to the right of the path held a nice Spotted Flycatcher and a large tit flock that included, 2 Willow Warblers & a Chiffchaff.

From the hide: 92 Greylag, 140+ Teal, 10 Shoveler, 6 Shelduck, c90 Lapwing, 4 Curlew, 3 Blk T Godwits, 2 Snipe, 1 Ruff, 70 Blk H Gulls, 2 Spotted Flycatchers (back hedge), 1 Cetti's Warbler. PL/RJ/MO'H/BH/MR et.al.

 

 

Mon 14th Sept 26

Another Quick visit for me today, I spent a few minutes with Pete, Rich & Mike seawatching before heading to the hide, on route 2 Wheatear were on the boating club rocks as were 6 Turnstones.

From the hide: 64 Greylag, 100+ Teal, 11 Shoveler, 7 Shelduck, 3 Mallard, 1 Pintail,  20+ Lapwing, 11 Avocet, 4 Snipe, 3 Blk T Godwits, 40+ Blk H Gulls, 4 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron. 

Pete Loud

08:25 Quite lively around the dell this morning with a male Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and all the common Warblers with several Blackcaps.

15:46 Offshore from Haven this morning was the first real Duck movement of the Autumn with over 100 Wigeon & 50+ Teal, 12 Sanderling, 4 Avocet, 2 Common Scoter, 14 Shelduck, 1 juv Kittiwake, 1 Hobby & hundreds of Swallows & House Martins, all movement to the south, walk up to Sandy point and back, 6+ Wheatear, 1 Whinchat and 4 or 5 Sandwich Terns, around the bushes, Spot Fly, Redstart, a few Willow Warblers & Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, several Blackcap & Lesser Whitethroat, evidence of a bit of movement after yesterday’s rain.