Fri 1st May 26

Reports from today

Brian Combes

07:07 Haven: Firecrest in bushes north of sluice.

19:31 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via the farm this morning included: 1 firecrest, 1 goldcrest (singing by sewage works gates), 2 pochard (pair), 1 wheatear (by muck heap on bridleway), 5 ruff (at least 5 on tiny pool north of hide first thing), 4 common sand (2 on sluice rocks, 2 on scrape), 1 sanderling (beach), 4 med gull, 1 yellow wag (over), 51 whimbrel (48 on golf course first thing, 3 north), 1 cuckoo (singing), 6 bar-tailed godwit (1 in beach, 1 on scrape, 4 on golf course), 23 swallow (7 south), 11 reed warbler (singing), 7 sedge warbler (singing), 10 whitethroat (singing), 3 lesser whitethroat (singing), 5 chiff (singing), 9 blackcap (singing), 8 Cetti’s (singing), 2 song thrush (singing), 1 sparrowhawk, 2 buzzard, 17 avocet, 4 oystercatcher, 9 linnet, 1 greenfinch, 2 red-legged partridge, 7 hare.

One of the pochard this morning.
Photo Brian Combes©

Matt Lonsdale

08:22 Pair of Pochards on pond right of hide.

08:46 Stunning make Black Redstart on radar tower fence/brambles in sub song!

Pete Loud

08:38 Beautiful morning to be out , we have lost that horrible wind at long last, sadly nothing much to report over the road, just 1 Avocet on the pool ,although it still looks good for waders with there being some decent water there, all the other pools on site have now dried out, which leaves the Scrape as the only significant water on site now, so remain hopeful of something good there soon.

14:09 From the hide this morning, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Bar- t-Godwit, 11 whimbrel, 1 Snipe, 1 Ruff, 1 Yellow Wagtail, at least 3 Lapwing Chicks. 3-4 Wall Butterflies were a first for me at the Haven, with easterly winds of late, makes me think they are migrants from the continent. 1 Sandwich Tern south past the cafe early afternoon.

Mike O'Hanlon

11:42 2 Wall butterflies by the sluice bushes.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©
For more pictures see "Haven Wildlife" page

13:37 White Wagtail in the Dell

17:30 White Wagtail in the Dell this afternoon

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

 

Thurs 30th Apr 26

Just a short visit to the hide this morning showed that 4 Ruff were still out on the marsh to the right of the hide as were a nice pair of Wheatears otherwise things were much the same as yesterday.

A walk around the bushes added a cracking Black Redstart (male) briefly on the roof of the cottages before being lost to view towards the front PNt/MR

From the hide: 6 Canada Geese (one pair with 8 ducklings), 4 Greylag, (+ the hybrid pair), 12+ Shelduck, 10 Mallard, 11 Avocet, 4 Ruff, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Wheatear, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Etc. RJ/MO'H/MR

At the end of April the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 138.

 

Wed 29th Apr 26

A very strong wind again today meant we were getting sand blasted walking passed the sluice so we headed to the hide, things looked much the same before 19 Bar-t-Godwits dropped into the scrape, mostly in summer plumage, followed a short while later by 4 Ruff.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Video Richard Jeffree©

From the hide: 6 Canada Geese (3 pairs, one with 8 goslings), 2 Greylag, (+1 Hybrid Pair), 14 Shelduck, 10 Mallard, 19 Bar-t-Godwit, 14 Avocet, 10+ Lapwing, 4 Ruff, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank, c180 Blk H Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 4 Med Gulls, 4 LBB's,  2 GBB's, 1 Common Gull, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Lesser & Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Linnet's, Pied Wag, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. PL/RJ/MR.

 

Tues 28th Apr 26

A strong chilly wind along the coast again today meant just a short visit to the hide.

From the hide: 3+ Canada Geese (plus the hybrid pair), 12 Shelduck, 10 Mallard, 12 Avocet, 10+ Lapwing (+3 Chicks), 2 Oystercatcher, c150 Blk H Gulls, 18 herring Gulls, 3+ GBB's, 2 Common Gulls, 2 Med Gulls, 4 Sandwich Terns (flew in with lots of noise, flew around then flew out), Cetti's Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting, Linnets, 2 Swallows, 1 Buzzard. RJ/MO'H/MR.

 

Mon 27th Apr 26

Nothing new over the road this morning but one of the Cetti's Warblers put on a good display, on the flood were c30 Herring Gulls, 12 Blk H Gulls, 8 LBB's, 2 Shelduck & a Lt. Egret, Plus lots of Linnets, 1 Lt Grebe on the brook, and the usual warblers all in song.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

From the hide: 6 Greylag, 4 Canada Geese, 16 Shelduck, 12 Mallard, 10 Avocet, 10 Lapwing, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank, 1 Curlew, c100 Blk H Gulls6 herring Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 1 Red Kite, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 8+ Swallows, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser & Common Whitethroat, Skylark, Reed Bunting and some nice close Corn Bunting. RJ/MO'H/MR

 

Sun 26th Apr 26

Another good start to the morning with Richard finding 2 Spotted Redshanks & a Wood Sand on the flood over the road first thing. All areas of the site seem to have migrants settling in now and with a light wind and lots of birdsong it was very pleasant. Plus more waders on the scrape with a Common Sand and a LRP.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

From the Hide: 1 Mute Swan, 4 Canada Geese (2 pairs), 2 Greylag (pair), and the hybrid Can/Greylag are still together, 10+ Mallard, 8 Shelduck, 10 Avocet, 10 Lapwing (plus 4 chicks FFY), 9 Blk T Godwits, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sand, 1 LRP, 1 Grey Heron, c60 Blk H Gulls, 2 Med Gulls, 1 Common Gull, Sedge Warbler, Corn Bunting, Linnets, Lesser & Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and 2 Green Hairstreaks. RJ/MO'H/MR

A walk to French Point added lots more Sedge Warblers and for me on the way back, 9 Whimbrel, 2 Purple Sands, 2 Oystercatcher and a winter plumage Bar-T-Godwit on French Pt. rocks.

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

08:33 2 Spotted Redshank and a Wood Sand on pool over rd.

17:42 15 Whimbrel and 1 w p Bar-tailed Godwit on GC from bridle path.

17:45 +another 25 behind me 40 in total.

Steve Entwistle

11:46 2 Spotted Redshank still here (1 full summer), only 14 gulls here now .

2 Avocets just dropped in.

 

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