Tues 7th Apr 26

A late start for me today, on the walk to the hide a Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were singing along the sewage works hedge and a Wheatear was on the Boating Club rocks, another Chiffchaff was seen near the windpump.

From the hide: Much the same, 4 Canada Geese, 8 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 5 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, 20+ Curlew, 12 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, c70 Blk H Gulls, 10 Med Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 1 Lt. Grebe, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, 2 Pied Wags, 1 White Wag.

A walk the French Pt. added, 1 Marsh Harrier, 12 Corn Buntings, Reed Bunting, Skylark, Meadow Pipit PL/RJ/MR.

 

Mon 6th Apr 26

By the time I managed to get out this morning a lot of the Wheatears had moved on, Richard and I had 2 on the Boating Club rocks and another half a dozen were on the marsh to the right of the hide.

From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 4 Canada Geese, 10 Shelduck, 8 Teal, 6 Mallard (incl. 10 ducklings), 5 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, c20 Curlew, 12 Lapwing, 5 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, c80 Blk H Gulls, 30+ Med Gulls, 1 Common Gull, c6 Wheatear, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Skylark, 2 Swallows. RJ/DC/MR et.al. 

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

07:56 Willow Warbler and couple of Blackcap singing wood @ end of car park.

08:01 2 Wheatear greensward

08:30 11 Wheatear up to wooden hide. 2 moth sanctuary, 2 on marsh right of hide and 5 around pill box and woodpiles. 2 Sedge Warbler singing, Little Grebe on pond. Corn Bunting on brambles on marsh. 15+ Chiffchaff and 4 Blackcap across site also.

08:36 Wheatear everywhere. additional 5 (4 boating club rocks and one at sluice) + Swallow.

09:02 G S Woodpecker in car park, and that was the lot.

 

Sun 5th Apr 26

From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 4 Canada Geese, 11 Shelduck, 10 Mallard (+ a female with 11 ducklings), 5 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 30+ Curlew, 20 Avocet, 10 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, 170+ Blk H Gulls, 15 Med Gulls, 3 Common Gulls, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Lt. Grebe, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Swallow, 1 Wheatear, 1 Cetti's Warbler. RJ/MO'H/MR.

 

Sat 4th Apr 26

From the hide: 2 Mute Swans 4 Canada Geese (2 pairs),  10 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 5 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon, 20+ Curlew, 16 Avocet, 11 Lapwing, 128 Bk H Gulls, 20+ Med Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, 1 Swallow, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Pied Wags, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel.

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

09:05 Still quiet over haven this morning - Egyptian goose came from south and landed on pools behind raised platform. 2 blackcap singing (memorials, ringing compound), 6+ chiffchaff, 2 goldcrest. Search of ditches for sedgies proved unsuccessful. 14 med gull, 14 avocet and grey heron on scrape. Single Siskin, linnets and several small groups of woodpigeon over + Rt diver offshore.

Steve Entwistle

09:41 1 Red-throated Diver on sea from shelter  close.

12:44 4 Purple Sand  75yds south French point.

12:46 9 Flying towards sunny point direction.

Mike O'Hanlon

10:52 Blackcap along the sewer works road.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Richard Jeffree

12:16 Sedge Warbler, Marsh behind French Pt.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

 

Fri 3rd Apr 26

Another day of strong and chilly winds, doesn't feel much like an Easter weekend to me.

3 Chiffchaffs were singing and 5 Purple Sands were on the sluice rocks on the way to the hide.

From the hide:  2 Mute Swans, 4 Canada Geese, 9 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 4 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 20+ Curlew, 11 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Avocet, 128 Blk H Gulls, 11 Med Gulls, 2 Pied Wags, 2 Cetti's Warblers 

Reports from today

Brian Combes

16:56 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via farm this morning included: 1 yellowhammer (west over farm), 2 goldcrest, 1 blackcap (singing), 45 med gull (39 on Greensward/golf course first thing; 6 on scrape), 4 chiff (singing), 6 Cetti’s (singing), 3 reed bunting, 2 Canada goose (south), 39+ linnet (30+ still on arable), 33 curlew, 4 oystercatcher, 2 mute swan, 2 shelduck (south), 3 avocet, 1 hare, 1 greenfinch, 1 Chinese muntjac, 3 song thrush (singing), 4 shoveler, 1 buzzard.

 

Thurs 2nd Apr 26

A very chilly wind today and much quieter around the site, a few Chiffchaffs singing along with Cetti's Warblers plus the usual tits and finches

From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 3+ Canada Geese, 10 Shoveler, 10 Mallard, 8 Shelduck, 8 Teal, 2 Wigeon, c30 Curlew, 11 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Avocet, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret, 119 B H Gulls, 7 Med Gulls, 2 Grey Wags, 2 Pied Wags, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MO'H/MR 

 

Wed 1st Apr 26

Some very sad news this morning of the passing of Pam Roker, who with her late husband Les was a stalwart of the local birding community for many years and a main part of Holland Haven birding.  RIP Pam.

5+ Chiffchaffs and several Cetti's Warblers were seen around the site today plus a Marsh Harrier over the road first thing and a new for year Kingfisher late morning for PL thankfully the Kingfisher put in an appearance at the hide a few minutes later.

8 Red-throated Divers were sitting on the sea off the sluice.

From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 10 Shelduck, 10 Mallard, 6 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 20+ Curlew, 15 Avocet, 14 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, c60 Blk H Gulls, 15 Med Gulls, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret. PL/RJ/MO'H/BH/MR

Reports from today

Pete Loud

10:36 Kingfisher along the brook over the road.

Mike O'Hanlon

11:07 Kingfisher from the hide.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©