Sat 21st Mar 26

Another addition to the site year list today with Richards Coot on the brook over the road, a cracking Yellowhammer for Matt first thing, 2 Red Kites & a S E Owl above the cottages for Richard and Simon and 2 Grey Wags along the track for myself and Tom, another good morning.

From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 4 Canada Geese (2 Pairs), 3 Greylag,  c150 Wigeon, c100 Teal, c20 Shoveler, 12 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, c40 Curlew, 20 Lapwing, 16 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, 1 Blk T Godwit, 148 Blk H Gulls, 6 Med Gulls, 1 GBB Gull, 1 Lt. Egret, 3 Buzzard, 2+ Red Kite, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

08:13 Yellowhammer on bramble at end of sewage works track where comes out seawards

Photo Matt Lonsdale©

Richard Jeffree

08:45 Coot on brook over road

09:41 SEO +2 Red Kites over sewage works.

 

Fri 20th Mar 26

Around the site this morning, 3 Sparrowhawks high over the Approach Rd. a nice group of Greenfinch in the Dell, several singing Song Thrush and 3+ Goldcrests. On the way to the hide c30 Siskins headed north (2 flocks 10 & 20ish).

From the hide:  4 Canada Geese (2 pairs), 2 Greylags, c150 Wigeon, c80 Teal, 20+ Shoveler, 10 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 1 Cormorant (summer plumage), 12 Avocet, 11 Lapwing, 7 Curlew, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, 1 Blk T Godwit, 77 Blk H Gulls, 2 Med Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 2 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 4 Pied Wags, 2 Grey Wags, 1 Cetti's Warbler. PL/RJ/MO'H/DC/MR. 

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

12:38 7 Purple Sandpipers on rocks south of Sandy Pt.

Brian Combes

16:54 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via the farm this morning included: 2 siskin (over), 1 red kite (drifted west over farm), 4 chiff (singing), 6 goldcrest, 14 med gull (Frinton Greensward/golf course first thing), 10 Cetti’s (singing), 4 reed bunting, 11 mipit (4 singing), 5 linnet, 3 song thrush (singing), 1 black-tailed godwit, 4 curlew, 1 greenfinch, 27 shoveler, 4 gadwall, 14 avocet, 1 brent (north), 4 oystercatcher, 1 corn bunting (singing), 3 buzzard (1 high to the north, 2 sparrowhawk (drifting extremely high to the north). (19 species in song.).

 

Thurs 19th Mar 26

A good day today, great to see butterflies on the wing searching out the new blossom, double figures of Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell this morning. On the bird front Raven was new for the year and Kittiwake are not often seen on the scrape, Firecrest and Goldcrest at the sewage works gate and 5+ Buzzard, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel overhead can't be bad. Other numbers from the hide much the same as of late. PL/RJ/MO'H/SE/MR et.al.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

10:23 Adult Kittiwake scrape

10:57 2 Raven flew east over scrape Kittiwake still asleep.

Mike O'Hanlon

12:00 Kittiwake has now flown off eastwards over the sewer works

12:51 4 Purple Sandpipers on rocks north of French Pt.

Pete Loud

13:55 Firecrest and Goldcrest, in bushes to the right of sewage works gate.

Steve Entwistle

14:10 4 Purple Sandpipers still on rocks

 

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.