Mon 9th Nov 26

A late start for me today. On the way to the hide 1 single Turnstone was on the Boating Club rocks and 6 Mallard on the brook behind the sluice, sadly there was no sign of the Desert Wheatear out on the marsh.

From the hide c30 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 4 Shelduck, 3 Blk T Godwits, 1 Green Sand, 1 Avocet, 1 Grey Heron, 1 S E Owl, 2 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, Skylark, Meadow Pipit & Pied Wags. RJ/MO'H/MR et.al.

Reports from today

Pete Loud

11:46 Short-eared Owl quartering the marsh at the golf course end of the marsh.

 

Sun 8th Nov 26

Quite busy in the Dell this morning with 6 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 6 Greenfinch, 8+ Goldfinch, Blue & Great Tits, Robin but the Approach Rd. was quiet. PL/MR

From the hide: 5 Greylags, c30 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 4 Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret, 4 Blk T Godwits, 1 Green Sandpiper, 23 Blk H Gulls, 1 Desert Wheatear, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Pied Wags. PL/RJ/MO'H/JS/MM/MR. et.al.

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

08:30 Desert Wheatear still present on mounds of earth right of hide. plus 4 Lt. Egrets over the marsh.

Pete Loud

12:28 Desert Wheatear still showing from the hide up to 12pm although distantly, also Short -eared Owl on the marsh, Green Sandpiper on the scrape.

 

Sat 7th Nov 26

The Morning got off to a good start when Matt reported hearing a Richard's Pipit between the sluice and the hide (sadly not re-located) a few mins later Simon had 3 Redpolls in the hand from his nets in the reedbed ride. 30mins later Richard found a Desert Wheatear along the front near the pillbox while heading to see the redpolls. This bird was new for the site and although being flushed and lost to view shortly afterwards it was relocated out on the marsh to the right of the hide by Matt and was still showing well at distance until at least midday.

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

08:03 Richards’s Pipit heard several time as I came through gate at sluice. Bird seemed to drop in somewhere near windpump area @c07:50.

09:43 It’s on the new scrape!. Right of hide (Desert Wheatear)

Simon Cox

08:07 3 Redpolls in hand now, Haven reedbed. Respond if want to see one please.

12:57 1st w Mealy Redpoll ringed at Haven this morning. (see Ringing page).

Photo Simon Cox©

Richard Jeffree

08:23 Desert Wheatear.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

08:42 Desert Wheatear pillbox currently flushed by dog walkers being looked for

Pete Loud

10:07 Desert Wheatear is showing out on the marsh on the new scrape area to right of scrape. Giving prolonged views although distant.

 

Fri 6th Nov 26

Most of the morning was spent on a work party clearing in front of the hide, a quick look in the Dell on arrival noted 5 Blackbirds, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Song Thrush, Greenfinch, Robin, Blue & Great Tits, 7 Mallard were on the brook behind the sluice and a Gt. W Egret flew along the marsh and dropped in close to Simon's ringing rides.

From the hide: 5 Greylags, a few Wigeon, Teal & Shoveler, 16 Lapwing, 2 Blk T Godwit, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron. PL/RJ/MO'H/DC/MR.

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

16:38 Interesting day at haven- Not the hoped for Humes, Pallas’s or dessert wheatear though 😢. 

Hours visit this morning focus on bushes- 2 Mistle Thrush the highlight + 2 fieldfare amongst small fall of blackbirds, redwing and song thrush. 8 goldcrest on approach road. Overhead 2 brambling, c15 siskin and light movement of mipit, starling and goldfinch. 

This evening a walk to the raised tee a bizzare mix. 

2 Firecrest (1 car park wood, 1 ringing compound), 1 chiffchaff (car park wood). GWE in gold course ditches then over seawall and not seen again also water rail and 3 stonechat, rock pipit and a grey plover N GC area. 2 Egyptian geese flew overhead and inland toward Gt Holland marshes. Green sand came off marsh behind car park calling near dusk.

 

Thurs 5th Nov 26

After the seawatch we had a wander down to the hide:

From the hide: 4 Brent Geese, 15 Wigeon, 14 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 5 Cormorant, 1 Spoonbill (fly through), 140 Lapwing (on the arable), 1 Snipe, 1 Blk T Godwit, 2 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler, PL/RJ/MO'H/PNt/MR.

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

07:52 Pom north.+

17:52 NFY Tawny Owl up at the farm

Simon Cox

11:33 Haven Seawatch 0715-1025 with RJ, PL, MR, MO’H, PN & visitors: Red-t Diver 2, Gannet 1, Cormorant 232, Brent 198, Shelduck 30, Wigeon 273, Teal 8, Eider 2, C Scoter 61, Red-b Merganser 2, Long-tailed Duck 1 N at 0910 (seen earlier distantly S by PN & RJ), Kittiwake 3, Pom Skua 1 N at 0750, Curlew 1, Dunlin 2, few Skylarks in/off, Porpoise 1 (also seen yesterday by GS).

 

Wed 4th Nov 26

Sea-watching was the priority this morning and although I was not there for the start I still picked up a life tick and 2 year ticks, see Simon's comprehensive list below. 

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

09:32 Storm Petrel slowly north past shelter.

10:19 Pom North.

Graham Sutton

10:03 Puffin N Haven.

Simon Cox

13:05 Haven counts 0715 up to 1130 with GS, RJ, PL, MR, MO’H & latterly SE: Diver sp 1, Cormorant 140, Brent 260, Greylag 8, grey goose sp 3 (thought to be Tundra Bean or Pinkfeet), Wigeon 34+, Eider 2, Red-b Merganser 1, Common Scoter 83, Storm Petrel 1 N at 0925 (found by GS & seen by all present), another at 1110 ( found by SE, seen by several but sadly not me!), Arctic Skua singles N at 0845 & 0920, Pom Skua N at 1015, Kittiwake 12, Razorbill 1 N, Puffin 1 N at 1000, Auk sp 1, Purple Sand  2 (GS), Lapwing 8, Starling several small groups in/off.

15:26 Add Gannet 19 to earlier count list.

Mike O'Hanlon

13:09 A short visit to hide with RJ - 62 Widgeon, 5 Cormorants, 11 Shoveler, 4 Brent, 10 Teal, 1 Mute swan, 1 juv White-front, 1 Black-wit (on pond), kestrel + 37 Lapwings on arable.

Brian Combes

17:16 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via the farm this morning included: 2 woodcock (flushed, 1 from seawall, 1 by sewage works), 6 goldcrest, 1 chiff, 7 redwing, 1 fieldfare, 3 stonechat, 2 goldfinch (south), 4 skylark (south), 5 gannet (north), 1 dunlin (north), 301+ starling (1 in-off, 300+ on arable), 12 blackbird, 5 song thrush, 4 chaffinch, 10 linnet, 1 rock pipit, 7 mipit, 1 white-fronted goose, 1 mute swan, 8 shoveler, 40+ wigeon, 17 teal, 1 grey heron, 4 reed bunting, 1 sparrowhawk, 2 green woodpecker, 3 Cetti’s (singing), 15 lapwing (south).

 

Tues 3rd Nov 26

Reports from today

Simon Cox

12:17 Haven Seawatch 0720-1030 with RJ, PL, MO’H: Red-t Diver 3, Diver sp 1, Gannet 3, Cormorant 25+, Brent 40+, Shelduck c10, Eider 3 N, Common Scoter 120+, Wigeon 30+, Duck sp 50+, Marsh Harrier 1 moving S over the sea, Sparrowhawk 1 in/off, Fieldfare 1 in/off, Starling 150+ in/off.

Mike O'Hanlon

13:18 Walk to Sandy point following the sea watch and a short visit to the hide with RJ, included 2 pairs of Stonechats, several Mipits plus 42 Lapwing, 6 Shoveler, 16 Teal, 1 Mute Swan, 5 Mallard, 1 juv White-fronted goose, 2 Cormorants, 20 Black headed gulls,  1 Black tailed godwit  on the scrape.