Thurs 31st Jan


                                                                               

A single Sanderling and 3 Turnstone were on the sluice this morning while c200 Wigeon were sitting on the sea.
At the back of the scrape 120 Greylag were grazing the marsh and just 2 White-fronts were visible (not all the geese were viewable).
25 Curlew and c80 Stockdove were on the marsh to the right of the hide, the arable up toward the farm held 68 Golden Plover and c150 Lapwing, also in the area around the hide were c200 Teal, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Buzzard MR

A small flock of Linnet and c15 Skylark were reported form the lay-by first thing JH.

Later in the day also viewed from the lay-by a large female Sparrowhawk was hunting over the scrape PNt.

At the end of January the total number of species recorded on the site so far this year stands at 102, lets hope this is indicative of a good year ahead.

Wed 30th Jan

Cold but nice and bright this morning but not much happening, 9 White-fronts still with the Greylag on the arable first thing before moving onto the marsh behind the cottages 9 Linnet 8+ Skylark were seen from the lay-by along with a good number of Lapwing and Starling.
A single Sanderling was on the sluice + a Stonechat on the mounds ML/MR/JH 

Late afternoon a Lt. Grebe was on the brook and a Little Owl* was on the hedge along the bridleway at the farm. ML

Tues 29th Jan 

Very quiet around the site this morning, a walk along the front to the 3rd. turret turned up just 2 Stonechats and a raft of c200 Wigeon sitting on the sea.
The frozen scrape held 4 Shelduck and a few Gulls on the ice + several groups of Teal around the marsh, 5 Blk. T Godwits were around the edge of the pond as were a number of Wigeon & Teal.

A 30 min. Seawatch added 12+ Red-throated Divers sitting offshore, 7 Gt. C Grebe (heading SW  2-3-2), 1 Cormorant NE.


Pete Loud

This evening from roadside lay-by, 66 Golden Plover on arable and still 9 White-fronts in with 150 Greylag on arable other side of road

Mon 28th Jan

Not normally a bird to get too excited about but this Canada Goose* was species No.100 for the site this year.

 

The 9 White-fronted Geese were with the Greylags on the marsh below the raised platform while the main scrape held 1 Canada Goose, 2 Greylag, c300 Teal, c100 Wigeon, 6 Shelduck, 5 Shoveler, 2 Blk. T Godwits, 1 Kestrel, 3 Buzzard.
On the marsh to the right of the hide were 25 Curlew.


  

Sun 27th Jan

Lots of R T Divers & Cormorants offshore today also noted in a short sea watch around 10.00 were 3 Gt. C Grebe, 2 Oystercatcher (S). The single Dunlin was still on the scrape with 300 Teal, 10 Wigeon, 3 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 1 Common Gull, 2 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier.

Sat 26th Jan

Not on site myself today but it sounds like a good morning, two new species added takes the year list to 99, will we make 100 by the end of the month?.

Matt Lonsdale

A 30 min. seawatch first thing showed a good number of R T Diver on the move  + 5 Gt. Crested Grebe in quick succession followed by two further groups of 4 and 5 (14) and 1 Razorbill all heading SW, another Grebe possibly Red-necked went NE then landed on the sea but couldn't be confirmed, finally a Shag* was sitting on the sea before flying SW .


Ian Minton

2 Bewick's Swans* were seen flying over the site around 12.30 before heading out towards Thorpe and a single Dunlin was on the scrape.

Fri 25th Jan

A walk along the front this morning located two Bearded Tits feeding in the open from the Boardwalk around 10.40 followed by a new for year Dunlin* which was on the beach before flying to the golf course. PRD

The Beardies were still around the Boardwalk at 12.15 also noted was 1 single Lt. Egret heading N + 4 Bar T Godwit heading S. ML

The Scrape was still quite frozen but from the hide were c100 Teal, 3 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 3 Greylag, 22 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 41 Stock Dove, 1 Buzzard MR

A short seawatch added c 300 Wigeon (sitting on the sea), c30 R T Diver offshore + 1 Guillemot (NE), 2 Sanderling (1 NE, 1 on the sluice) ML/MR + 1 Grey Wagtail* (in sewage works) ML.

On leaving site the 9 White-fronts were with c150 Greylag on the marsh between the approach rd. and the brook MR

This afternoon a flock of 18 Fieldfare flew over the farm heading inland JH

Wed 23rd Jan

After hours of searching and a few brief glimpses the Bearded Tits finally gave themselves up with  some super view from the hide. The 3 birds (1 male, 2 female) were feeding in the reedbed on the right hand side of the scrape for at least 30 mins before a low pass from a male Sparrowhawk  had them diving for cover, unfortunately not to be relocated. PL/ML/JH/MR

A single Sanderling was on the sluice first thing (JH).

Also from the Hide :- C200 Wigeon, c200 Teal, 8 Shelduck, 5 Shoveler, 23 Curlew, 5 Blk T Godwit, c300 Lapwing (on the arable), 1 Sparrowhawk (male), 3 Buzzard, c40 Stock Doves.

At least 5 White-fronts were in with the Greylags on the marsh below the car park. MR

Tues 22nd Jan

Pete Davis

Very quiet again this morning, of note the 9 White-fronts were again in with the Greylags, a single Gadwall* (drake) NFY. was on the scrape and the Water Rail made another very brief appearance to the right of the hide.


Matt Lonsdale

11+ Linnets! came into roost in brambles between hide and moth sanctuary late afternoon. Views inconclusive to be sure nothing else in with them, then flew off towards farm.

Mon 21st Jan

A walk down from the farm for Pete Davis was said to be very quiet but things picked up when 2 Bearded Tits were located in the reedbed beside the boardwalk.

Efforts to relocate the Beardies after lunch by myself were unsuccessful but 2 Purple Sandpipers, 2 Rock Pipits (incl. Z66), and 4 Stonechat made the walk worthwhile. Joined by Matt Lonsdale more of the reedbed was checked but still no luck until when approaching the hide a compact looking snipe shot passed us and seemed to drop into the area around the cattle bridge, after a few minutes of searching the bird was relocated and identified as a Jack Snipe* which then headed for the area behind the scrape. 

Sun 20th Jan

Pete Loud

A walk to Frinton and back 1st thing gave plenty of Red throats,1 probable GND on sea, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Stonechat, 1 Peregrine (perched on arable), at least 5 White-fronts in with Greylags + 2 Fieldfare flew over car park early am.
A seawatch early afternoon, still lots of Divers, 2 prob GND, 2 Guillemot, 1 Red-breasted  Merganser & 1 Ad Kittiwake.

Matt Turner

2 W.F.Geese (with Greylags),1 Buzzard,1 Sparrowhawk,1 Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier, 8 Shoveler, 1 Guillemot, 30 Blk.T.Godwit, 20 Golden Plover, 1 Snipe, 3 Song Thrush, 3 Gt.N. Diver*, 20 R.T. Diver, 3 Stonechat.  

Fri 18th Jan

The day for me started with a look across to the hide from the lay-by where c300 Lapwing & a large number of Starling were on the winter wheat field. The 9 White-fronts were on the marsh behind the cottages with c150 Greylag and a mixed flock of Gulls.

I joined PRD.ML.& JH. at the Sailing Club shelter where a few R.T. Divers had been seen offshore when to our surprise a Lt. Egret was seen heading steadily SW and a few minutes later a Razorbill* headed in the same direction close inshore.

A walk along the front had the Greylag & White-fronts drop into the frozen scrape and joined by 6 Brent Geese, the Purple Sandpiper was seen briefly on the first rocks north of the sluice and a Rock Pipit was in the same area.

On the return 2 Buntings were seen to land in the hedge behind the main hide which turned out to be Yellowhammers* , not a bad morning !!!

Wed 16th Jan

All much the same around the site this morning, still 9 White-fronts in with the Greylags.MR

A 2hr. afternoon seawatch was quite productive, along with several R T Diver milling around offshore 1 Great Skua* & 2 Little Gulls* were heading south & a Guillemot was sitting on the sea ML/MR

Tues 15th Jan

The 9 White-fronted Geese were noted on the arable with c200 Greylag first thing this morning and early afternoon viewed from the lay-by MR/ML.

Also 2 new birds for the year list were an Ad Kittiwake* close south/west passed the raised tee. PRD and a Water Rail* briefly from hide mid morning ML

Monday 14th Jan

The 9 White-fronted Geese were still around the scrape area today along with c80 Greylag, c250 Teal, c200 Wigeon, 14 Shelduck, 5 Shoveler, 1 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Blk T Godwits, 1 Curlew, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Redwing + on the arable around midday were c 400 Lapwing and a good count of 83 Golden Plover. PRD/TS/DW/JH/MR

Sunday 13th Jan


Mick Rodwell

From the hide this morning :- c250 Teal, c150 Wigeon, 10 Shelduck, 6 Shoveler, c400 Lapwing, 10 Blk T Godwit, c80 Greylag the 9 White-fronted Geese were on the marsh to the right of the hide and a Peregrine was on the arable. A short walk along the front added 1 Rock Pipit and 1 Purple Sandpiper.

Pete Loud

From the farm paddocks this morning, Mistle Thrush & Stonechat. Half way down right hand footpath to golf course where grain is put out for game,16 Corn Buntings.
From lay-by on main road 1 Merlin* high over Marsh,heading inland,possibly came in off the sea.1 Sanderling briefly by Sluice,1 Goldcrest by cottages.

Fri 4th Jan

Twite on Site

A first visit in 2019 by George Brown added a single Twite* in with 12 Linnet* on the arable viewed from the layby on the B1032 looking toward the Hide.

A New Year

This years 1st January walk around the site produced a total of 71 species. Some of the highlights included 4 Egyptian Geese, 4 Gannet, Goldeneye, Bar-tailed Godwit and Corn Bunting.

On Fri 4th Jan. 9 White-fronted Geese* were found in with the Greylag (PRD) and a Barn Owl* was added (JH) as was a Rock Pipit, and the Purple Sandpipers* were still around from last year  

Pete Loud Sat 5th Jan. 

Haven this morning, On the Scrape 16 Blackwits, 7 Shoveler, 1 Snipe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Purple Sands below seawall, 1 Turnstone & 1 Rock Pipit. Offshore,1 Black-throated Diver close in north,2 Red- breasted Merganser* ,3 Great crest ed Grebe,3 adult Gannet north, north + plenty of Red-throats still around,1 Guillemot* swimming with tide (Max)

Pete Newton Sat 5th Jan

Rock Pipit, ringed 30 March 2017 , Maletangen , Fraena , More og Romsdat , NORWAY .  Seen at the Haven on 13 March 2018 , is now back at the Haven , 3rd January and today , exacly where it was last year , by the first rock barrier from the sluice (green ringed z66). Excellent pic by Trevor Clifford today

Matt Lonsdale Sun 6th Jan.

Little Egret* on the scrape + Bearded Tits* heard near wooden hide and located shortly afterward in reedbed near Kirby Brook cattle gate.

Pete Newton Wed 9th Jan

12 Sanderling* (one colour ringed) were on the sluice around mid-day