Sun 30th June 19

The Avocet chick from yesterday was joined by 3 more today, looks like yesterdays bird has 2 siblings and a freshly hatched chick this morning has mum still sitting on eggs..

From the hide :- 23 Shelduck (15 adults + 8 large ducklings), 1 Gadwall, 1 Teal, 29 Avocet (25 + 4 chicks), 10 Blk. T Godwits, 10 Lapwing, 8 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Med Gull (1cy), 10+ Pied Wagtails, 4 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, PL/MR

Noted around the site were 8 Reed Bunting, 4 Reed Warbler, 5 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit and the pair of Stonechat.

Lots of Small Skipper butterflies today, see "Haven Wildlife" page.


At the end of June the total number of species recorded on the site so far this year stands at 162.

Sat 29th June 19

Max Martin

07:58 Juvenile Coal Tit in brambles in front of raised platform.

08:38 Juv. Bearded Tit in front of hide! You beauty. 


Ian Minton

08:25 Little Owl seen briefly in flight along path to right of farm pond.

Matt Lonsdale

08:38 Young Coal Tit from top end of car park.

09:07 Avocet youngster on scrape.

09:27 8 Blackwits dropped into the scrape.

Pete Loud

16:44 Quick visit to Scrape this afternoon :- 2 Swift, 6 Sand Martin, 1 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 3 decent sized Redshank chicks and the one Avocet chick. All the other Avocets are still sitting, so should be a few more soon. 1 Juvenile Stonechat in bramble to right of Hide.

Sat 29th June 19

Been away for a few days so here's a quick catch up on what's been happening.

Pete Davis 

Thu 27th June  Spanking 'black' male Ruff on the scrape.

Fri 28th June   Fulmar over sea wall toward Frinton. From the hide :-  1 Yellow Legged Gull (Ad), 2 Beardies, 2CY Marsh Harrier.

Tues 25th June 19

Breezy with heavy cloud again this morning and I headed for the hide hoping the overnight rain had dropped something good into the scrape. On arrival Pete Davis was already settled in and informed me that yesterdays LRP was nowhere to be seen and the only new arrivals were 12 Teal, I don't know about Autumn being here, seems more like Winter with returning ducks.
From the hide :- 19 Shelduck, 12 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 24 Avocet, 10 Lapwing (6+4), 9 Redshank (6+3), 2 BlkWit's, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 6 Swallow, c20 Swift, + a good number of juv. Pied Wags. The walk back to the car added the pair of Stonechat, Whitethroat, Linnet, Blackcap, Reed Warbler and House Sparrow on the mounds + 2 singing Goldfinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Greenfinch at the feeding station.

Matt Lonsdale

This evening :- Scrape- 12 Teal, 1 Curlew and 2 Blackwits. 
Mounds- 2 Stonechat (Male + unringed fem), Chiffchaff with fledged young and Sandwich Tern (south).
More good news- fledged young Stonechat near wooden hide.

Another first of year on the Haven Wildlife page.

Mon 24th June 19


Very quiet on site today the one highlight was a Little Ringed Plover found on the scrape by Pete Davis at 10:15 and still showing for Ted Sewell just before mid-day.

Sun 23rd June 19

Very quiet around the site today with a brisk wind and heavy cloud cover for most of the morning. 
Pete Loud had a distant Hobby and a Marsh Harrier drifting high north from the raised platform around 10:30.
From the hide :- 20 Shelduck, 3 Gadwall, 19 Avocet,10 Redshank, 8 Lapwing, 6 BlkWit's, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Reed Bunting, 5 Linnet, 4 Reed Warbler, 1 Buzzard + a few Swallow, Swift and Sand Martin. PL/ML/MR

Also a few bits on the Haven Wildlife page. 

Sat 22nd June 19


Pete Loud

A wander around the Haven today. Tufted Duck (female) on brook over the road. 
Scrape :- 25 Avocet, with 11 on nests,1 Knot (winter plumage), 8 Blackwits, 2 Oystercatchers (nesting pair), 1 Adult and 2 1st summer Med Gulls,1 Marsh Harrier & 12 Swift. 1 pair of Stonechat.
All the usual Warbler species, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Cettis, Reed, Sedge, Whitethroat & Lesser Whitethroat, all breeding on site. Couple of Painted Lady’s along seawall & 2, Four-spotted Chasers,1 Emperor & 1 Hairy Dragonfly.

Fri 21st June 19

Lots of youngsters around again today, and lots of adults with beaks full of food. The pair of Stonechat were on the mounds again as were Whitethroats, Reed Warblers, Gt. & Blue Tits and a Cetti's Warbler.

From the hide :- 24 Shelduck + Ducklings, 26 BlkWit's, 19 Avocet, 8 Lapwing, 8 Redshank, 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Linnets, 1+ Bearded Tit.

14 Painted Lady Butterflies were noted on site today.

Thu 20th June 19

Birds of the day again today were the Bearded Tits with 3+ seen in front of the hide regularly  between 10:00 & 11:00. still very mobile the contact calls could be heard before a quick view as they flew and dropped into the reed bed.

From the hide :- 34 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 22 Avocet, 10 Lapwing, 8 BlkWit's, 8 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Swift, 6 Swallows, 3+ Bearded Tit, 4 Reed Warbler, 4 Reed Bunting, 6 Linnet.

On the Mounds :- 8+ L T Tits, 6 Whitethroat, 2 Stonechat (pair), 5 House Sparrows, 5 Linnets, 1 Chiffchaff.

On the wildlife side, a good morning for Painted Lady's with at least 6 on site (see Haven Wildlife).

Wed 19th June 19

After Paul Braishaw's message regarding a pod of Porpoise offshore at Frinton yesterday, it was sad to come across one washed up dead on the beach near the Gunfleet Boating Club this morning.

On the birding side not much change, all the same locals around the mounds.

From the hide :- 31 Shelduck (incl. 8 ducklings), 4 Gadwall, 25 Avocet, 10 Lapwing (incl. 4 chicks), 12 Redshank (incl. 5 chicks), 10 BlkWit's, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Dunlin, 4 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron,6 reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Bunting 3 Linnets, 120 Swallows, 6 House Martins, 4 Swift + c60 Swift over the arable after a shower of rain. JH/MR

Liz Huxley

17:45

4 Bearded Tits along ditch in front of hide but very mobile !,  1 Green Sandpiper, 29 Avocet, 4 Blackwit on scrape.

Tues 18th June 19

Headed straight for the hide this morning, the mounds area looked much the same with the pair of Stonechat around the back of the sluice, several Whitethroat and a singing Blackcap, 2+ Swallows along the brook and a small flock of Linnet.

The first count of 26 Shelduck on the scrape was boosted when a Paraglider flew low over the reserve flushing the birds from the marsh after which we had a total of 39.

If you happen to recognize this person or canopy please let us know.

From the hide :- 39 Shelduck, 22 Avocet, 12 Lapwing, 12 BlkWit's, 10 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Med Gulls (2cy), 4 Reed Bunting, 4 Linnets, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard.

The high point of the morning was when a group of Bearded Tits were seen in the reeds on the marsh to the right of the hide, the 3 birds visible were 1 Adult male and 2 Juveniles, after a short while a total of 4 birds flew further along the reed bed and were lost to view.
Later in the morning the adult male and a single Juv. were re-seen in the same area. Hopefully this is a first breeding record for Bearded Tits at Holland Haven.

Mon 17th June 19

A lovely day today, sunny and warm with not too much wind, lots of birds out feeding young and lots of Butterflies around. 
This female Blackcap was sending out alarm calls as I was obviously too close to her family.

The mounds area held half a dozen Whitethroat, 5 Goldfinch, a single Blackcap, 4 Linnet, 2 Swallows at the back of the sluice and a pair of Stonechat.
From the hide :- 14 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 27 Avocet, c10 Redshank, 8 Lapwings, 3 Blk. T Godwits, 2 Swift, 4 Swallow, 2 Reed Warbler, 4 Reed Bunting, 4 Linnets, 1 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard. DW/MR

A walk along Kirby Brook to the concrete bridge added Reed and Sedge Warblers both feeding young and a few Dragonflies (see Haven Wildlife page).

  

Sun 16th June 19

Pete Loud

Today walked to northern boundary across Golf Course, along back hedge and back along seawall.1 Little Owl, 2 Corn Bunting, 1 Male Marsh Harrier, 1 Fulmar (north), 3 Stonechat, (2 Male 1 Female).
Scrape :- 26 Avocet, (with several nesting), 3 Blackwits, 200+ mixed flock of Swift & House Martin feeding over arable, 2 Med Gull. A few Butterflies incl., Brown Argus, Small Heath, Red Admiral, Common Blue & Meadow Brown.

Sat 15th June 19

John Hall

AM visit to scrape. C25 Shelduck + 8 Ducklings, 19 Avocet, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Blackwits, 5 Redshank, C 25 Gulls ( BH Herring), 6 Mallard, 1 Gadwall, 7 Lapwing, 2 Moorhen a few intermittent Swallows, 2 Cormorants, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Cock Pheasant.

Fri 14th June 19

Much the same today, but a bit more sunshine made it a better day for butterflies. (see Haven Wildlife page)
3 Cetti's Warblers were noted (Over the road, at Dipping Pond and behind the Sluice). An Oystercatcher was on the seawall near the sluice.

From the hide :- 32 Shelduck + ducklings, 22 Avocet, 6+2 Redshank, 6 + 4 Lapwing, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, c80 Swift (over arable towards Gt. Holland Church). PRD/DW/MR

Thu. 13th June 19

Not a very nice day out there today, with a strong wind and heavy cloud. A Reed Warbler and a Chiffchaff were making the most of the shelter around the Dipping pond, as were a family of newly fledged Blue Tits. 
The area around the Raised Platform was much the same with family groups of Long-tailed, Blue & Gt. Tits showing well, while Whitethroat, Blackcap and Cetti's Warbler were keeping their heads down.
Several  Whitethroat were on the sheltered side of the mounds and a Blackcap was singing in the ringing compound.

From the hide :- 32 Shelduck, 7 Gadwall, 23 Avocet, 8 Lapwing, 8 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Blk. T Godwit, 5 Cormorant, 2 Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Kestrel.

60+ House Martins, 20+ Swift and 8 Swallows were hawking over the scrape with a further 120+ Swift over the arable towards Gt. Holland.

Wed 12th June 19

From the hide:- 24 Shelduck (16 + 8), 5 Gadwall, Mallard, 24 Avocet, 10 Lapwing (6+4), 7 Redshank (5+2), 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Blk. T Godwit, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Cuckoo, 6 Swallows, 3 Reed Warbler, 4 Linnets, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Stonechat (male).

The mounds area added 4 Whitethroat, 4 Swallow, 1 Blackcap, 1 Cetti's Warbler. 

A round up of the reports from the last week 


Wed 5th June 19

John Hall

Morning visit to scrape 28 Shelduck, 10 Avocet, 2 Redshank, 3 Lapwings, 1 Oystercatcher, 4 Cormorants, 15 Mallard, C 35 Gulls inc 1 GBB, 2 LBB, 5 BH, rest Herring a sprinkling of Swallows, Juv Grey Wagtail, pair Gadwall, 4 Lapwing chicks 5 Shelduck ducklings.


Fri 7th June 19

Matt Lonsdale

Pretty quiet around haven this afternoon but 19 avocet still ok scrape and lots of fledglings on bushes.


Sat 8th June 19

Max Martin

08:40  Female Marsh Harrier from raised platform

09:06 Beaded Tit just flown from ditch to reeds at back of scrape.


Pete Loud

Strong SW with light showers was producing a good movement of Swifts this morning 300+ and House Martins 80+, 1 Common Tern close south past Sluice.Scrape, 26 Avocets, 1 Curlew,1 Blackwit,1 Cuckoo.


Sun 9th June 19


Pete Loud

Still 150+Swifts feeding over arable at back of Marsh & 2 Marsh Harrier. Scrape, 24 Avocet, 5 Blackwits. Plenty of Butterflies about,including Meadow Brown,Red Admiral,Orange Tip & Brown Argus. Black-tailed Skimmer by brook over the road.

Sun 2nd June 19

As we move into a new month the first Bee Orchid of the year pushed it's head out of the ground today.

On the birding front it's very quiet, with just the breeding birds working hard to keep their young fed. Lots of Blue Tit & Gt Tit young in the bushes + Chiffchaff & Whitethroats carrying food.

Around 10:00 Matt Lonsdale reported a Coal Tit calling from the ringing compound

From the hide :- 2 Mute Swan, 35 Shelduck (28 + 7), 18 Avocet,7 Lapwing (4 + 3), 3 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Swallow, 1 Reed Warbler, 6 Linnet, 3 Reed Bunting,  4 Pied Wagtails, 1 Kestrel. 

The first Four-spotted Chaser of the year was seen at the dipping pond this morning (see Haven Wildlife page). PL/MR


I will be away next week so there will be no updates for a short while, hope to resume around the 11th/12th.

Sat 1st June 19

Not on site today and no reports received so far.