Wed 1st May 19

The site day started early today with Paul Braishaw having 3 Whimbrel, 2 Greylag, 2 Canada geese and a single Brent on the golf course at 06:15 and a Little Tern* (NFY) close in from the raised tee, shortly afterward a Swift* (NFY)  came in off the sea.

An hour later Max Martin had 2 Barnacle Geese* (NFY) heading north close offshore

Pete Loud and myself had a walk through the site to the sluice this morning and found that Blackcaps and Whitethroats were well established in most areas now also noted were 4+ Chiffchaffs, 4+ Cetti's Warblers, 3+ Less. Whitethroats, 2 Cuckoo, 1 Yellow Wagtail (flyover), 2 Stonechat. 
The walk to the Frinton end added 58 Common Scoter (N), 2 Oystercatcher (on rock breakwater), 6+ Sandwich Tern (N), 4 (S), 1 Little Tern (N), 4 Cormorant (S), 2 Sand Martins, 6 Swallows,  34 Whimbrel (at the back of the GC), c12 Reed Bunting, 4 Reed Warbler, 5+ Sedge Warbler, 1 Bearded Tit, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks.
The return to the hide gave 2 Canada Geese, 20+ Shelduck, 9 Teal, 8 Lapwing, 5 BlkWit's, 5 Bar T Godwits, 4 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Spotted Redshank and a superb summer plumage Grey Plover* (NFY).

Around 14:00 Ted Sewell reported that the Grey Plover was still on the scrape and that a Greenshank had also dropped in.

At 16:35 Max Martin had no sign of the Grey Plover but a Common Sandpiper was on the scrape and within minutes a Spoonbill dropped in. 

Back of camera shot Max Martin©

While Watching the Spoonbill a Red Fox was in front of the hide (see Haven Wildlife page)