Mon 30th Sept 19

I joined Matt Lonsdale for a while this morning as he gathered some impressive totals for VisMig along  the coast (see report below). also recording some good totals were Simon & Pat during a morning ringing session (see Ringing page).

A heads up message from Pete Davis at the hide around 10:00 gave us some great views of a Gt. White Egret heading south over the marsh and after looking like it may land it climbed and continued along the coast over Clacton. ML/MR

Photo Matt Lonsdale©

Around the bushes :- 6 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest, 6 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Stonechat, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine.

From the hide :- c180 Greylag, 60 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 128 Lapwing, 2 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 42 B H Gulls, 10 Herring Gulls, 5 GBB Gulls, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Stonechat.



Matt Lonsdale

Haven this morning- 7:30 -13:00
Vismig recording 7:30 -1040 1 GWE (s at 09:58), Peregrine, 10 Jay, 2 Siskin (foa) 252+ Meadow Pipit (undercounted!), 217 Linnet, 175 Goldfinch, 8 Yellow Wags, c50 alba Wag, 3 Grey Wags, 140 House Martin, 52 Swallow, 11+ Sand Martin, 15+ Chaffinch, 5+ Reed Bunting, 38 Skylark, 3 Buzzard, Peregrine, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sand, 2 Gannet, 2 Teal, 1 Great Created Grebe, Med Gull and Common Gull. (Simon & Pat estimate c450 Mipits)

Bushes :- 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 10+ Blackcap, 14+ Chiffchaff, 10+ Stonechat, 1 Willow Warbler. 

An Arctic Skua chased 6 Sandwich Tern over seawall, a Wheatear was on golf course, 2 Dunlin and 2 Snipe, 1 Water Rail and Bearded Tit (heard only) were on the scrape.

Photo Matt Lonsdale©

18:18 2 Spoonbills on scrape then flew high over Gt. Holland. Also Barn Owl and Turnstone this evening.

Sun 29th Sept 19

Very wet and windy today, so just had a couple of hours on site late morning.

I met up with Pete Loud and he had had a few bits & pieces during an earlier seawatch with Laurence Drummond inc. Gannet and several Sandwich Tern but his birds of the day were a count of 20 Yellow Wagtails on the greensward between the shelter and the PLA pylon. At least 4 of these birds were still around when I left site just before 13:00.

From the hide :- c200 Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, 70+ Teal, 80+ Lapwing, 4 Curlew, 2 Avocet, 2 Snipe, 2 BlkWits, 1 Dunlin, 8 Cormorant, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier. PL/MR 

Pete Loud

Day started with a seawatch,1 Merlin (LD), 3 Gannet, 25+ Sandwich, 8 Common Tern, 2 Golden Plover, 13 Dunlin & 22 Curlew. 20 Yellow Wagtail were on the greensward. When the weather improved I walked to Golf Course adding Grey Wagtail, 20+Swallow, Hobby & Whinchat on way back.
Scrape 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Snipe, 2 Avocets, 2 Blackwits, 1 Dublin, 1 Little Egret.

Matt Lonsdale

Farm + golf course 15:00 - 17:00 absolutely soaked! 
Hobby (over farm buildings), 2 Blackcap, 3 Mistle Thrush and Wheatear in paddocks. 3 Stonechat, 9+ Chiffchaff, few Curlews, Marsh Harrier, 50+ Linnet and numerous Skylark & Mipit.

Sat 28th Sept 19

Matt Lonsdale

Haven this morning 6:30-12:50. 
Highlights- Lapland Bunting (heard near wooden hide seemed to flush out of grass), Spoonbill (in/off towards Hamford @ 09:18, Firecrest (in front of shelter), Red T. Diver N, small falcon offshore (almost certainly Merlin, seem to struggle coming in/off sadly).
Vismig inc- 503 Mipits, 48 Linnet, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Goldfinch, 5 Chaffinch, 5 Tree Sparrow, 3 Sparrow sp (prob. Tree), Reed Bunting, 17 House Martin, 57 Swallow, 6 alba wags, 33 Teal, 11 Brent Geese, 3 Dunlin all south. 6 Sandwich Terns and 5 Gannets. 
Other birds were a few Goldcrest, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps (pl), Kingfisher, 3 Snipe, 2 Wigeon, Lt Egret, 2 Avocet, 15 Balckwit and Bearded Tit and Water Rail.

Fri 27th Sept 19

Matt Lonsdale

08:00-10:20 decent passage inc - first Skylark of autumn, 20+ Goldfinch, 10+ Linnet, 150+ Mipits, Grey Wag, 60+ Swallow, 40+ House Martin. 3+ Goldcrest and 2 Chiffs in bushes. 

Scrape :- 1 Kingfisher, 2 Snipe, 4 Curlew, 2 Avocet and Stonechat.


Very windy later in the morning which made the hide a good place to be, but things were much the same as of late :- 186 Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, 60 Teal, 7 Cormorant, 100 Lapwing, 8 Curlew, 3 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard.
The steady southerly movement of Meadow Pipits & Swallows continued throughout the morning. JH/MR

Thu 26th Sept 19

A short visit to the hide this morning showed very little change with c220 Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, 7 Cormorants, 2 Grey Heron, c40 Teal, 120 Lapwing, 5 Curlew, 2 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 31 B H Gull, 11 Herring Gull, 1 GBB Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Buzzard + c20 Swallow heading south. CB/MR. Two Sandwich Tern were feeding offshore.

Wed 25th Sept 19

I spent some time in the shelter of the wooded areas of the site this morning and although there were lots of Blue, Great & L T Tits around I managed to find just 4 Chiffchaff & 3+ Goldcrest of note. A couple of Jays were starting to find acorns and two Green Woodpeckers were making a lot of noise along the bottom hedge. 
Around 30 Swallows were seen moving south through the site ahead of the rain

Pete Davis visited the hide and things were almost the same as yesterday apart from an extra flock of Canada geese which included at least two hybrids.



John Hall

Sea watch 1530-1645 Excellent visibility but not much to see. 1 Cormorant 1 Comic Tern on Red Buoy . Green Woodpecker and Pied Wag in off. A few Blk. Headed and Herring Gulls + 1 Lesser Black-back. 1 very soggy Robin on fence.

Tue 24th Sept 19

I didn't venture out until the afternoon as this morning was very wet to say the least.
I joined Pete Davis just before 15:00 for a 60 min seawatch which gave a total of 430 Brent Geese (groups of 200,180,30, 20), 8 Pintail, 2 Oystercatcher all heading south and 3 Sandwich Tern feeding offshore.

A quick visit to the hide added :- c200 Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, c40 Teal, 70 Lapwing, 18 Curlew, 4 Snipe, 2 Avocet, 8 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard), 2 Kestrel.  

Mon 23rd Sept 19

Two new birds for the site Year List today with a Grasshopper Warbler from this mornings ringing session and a Turtle Dove fly over for Matt Lonsdale this evening taking the total to 179.

Around the bushes a few bits and pieces were noted including 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and a good sized Tit flock. MR. The area around the sluice held 4 Stonechat, Blackcap and several Meadow Pipits, 11 Brent headed south & a single Sandwich Tern was close offshore. Two further Stonechat & 2 Swallows were seen near the wooden hide. PRD/MR
Simon & Pat ringed 37 Meadow Pipits and estimated 250+ had passed through during the morning (For more info on the ringing session and Gropper picture see the Ringing page).

From the Hide :- 210+ Greylag, 7 Canada geese, 39 Teal, 112 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 5 BlkWits, 1 Dunlin, 1 Curlew, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Buzzard. 


  

Sun 22nd Sept 19

A few people were sea-watching this morning with Red-breasted Merganser, Arctic Skua & Merlin all noted.

Around the site were :- 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Grey Wagtail, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap.
From the hide :-  c200 Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, c50 Teal, 92 Lapwing, 17 Curlew, c10 BlkWits, 5 Snipe, 5 Dunlin, 1 Ruff, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel. MR/EJ

Matt Lonsdale

Haven this morning 07:00-10:30 
Lots of wildfowl on the move (Brent’s, Wigeon and Teal), 3 Com Scoter, 2 Shoveler, Red breasted Merganser. Arctic Skua S, 2 Med Gull, Ruff, 25+ Dunlin, Grey Plover. 
Bushes very quiet but few Song Thrush and the odd common warbler sp.

Sat 21st Sept 19

Pete Loud

Seawatch this morning 0620-0830, 1 Leach’s Petrel close north at 0715, 1 Arctic Skua (imm) 0655 & 1 Fulmar, 1 juv Arctic Tern close north, 3 Sandwich Tern and small groups of Brent totalling 57 south.


Matt Lonsdale

8:30-11:30 additional to PL. 
3 Sooty Shearwater S (c09:00), IM, MM), Black Throated Diver S, Arctic Skua N, 2 Gt. C Grebe S, Oystercatcher S, 5+ Gannet N, 2 Sandwich Tern N, 4 Teal S, Fulmar lingering + N, 15 + Brent south. 
Scrape :- 2 Avocet, 2 Dunlin, 10+ Blackwit and few Snipe. 

Bushes = dead.


Paul Braishaw

Yellow-Browed Warbler Frinton back of golf course from tennis club.  Quite vocal, moving further south down lane with tit flock.


Ian Minton

11.30-17.00 further sightings across the site included 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Med Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Chiffchaff, Whinchat and Goldcrest.

Fri 20th Sept 19

Had a very pleasant walk around the site with the BIG County Birdwatch 70 group this morning and a sea-watch prior to the walk gave a few good birds inc. Arctic Skua, Gannet, Common Scoter & a lot of Brent Geese. Birds on the walk included Whinchat, Bar-tailed Godwit and a Sparrowhawk in the hand (one of the birds from a ringing session by Simon & Pat Cox). A total of 73 species were noted by the group during the morning walk.

Matt Lonsdale

Seawatch 06:45-07:45
Bonxie N, Gannet N, 2 Sandwich Tern N. 40+ Wigeon S, 13+ Brent S, 20+ Teal S, Marsh Harrier S, Kestrel S, 3 Com Scoter s + Com Gull.
15:11 Little Owl flushed from hedge at back of golf course, also Red-legged Partridge, Rook, House Martin and Corn Bunting around farm/fields.

Thu 19th Sept 19

Matt Lonsdale

07:30-10:00 
Water Rail (briefly in reeds at back of scrape) also 10+ Blackwit, 2 Snipe, 3 Avocet, 2 Lt. Egret, Beardies (heard), Kingfisher. 
Bushes - 20+ Chiff and Blackcap, 6 Goldcrest, 1 Willow Warbler,  4 Lesser Whitethroat, Song Thrush.
Sandwich Tern offshore, Swallows, House Martins and few Sand Martins, with few Mipits and single Chaffinch south overhead.

17:45-19:50
Little Owl (first tree n of golf course on footpath), 250+ Mipits, c50 Linnet, 3 Skylark in farm fields. 6 Stonechat, Common Sand and Barn Owl other highlights.



From the hide this morning :- 200 Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, 50 Teal, 2 Lt. Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 112 Lapwing, 22 Curlew, 3 Avocet, 2 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 2 Kingfishers, 1 Stonechat. PRD/DW/MR

Pete Davis had a walk to the Frinton end of site and added 10+ Stonechat, 3 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, c50 Meadow Pipits and 2 Dunlin on the rock breakwater.

Wed 18th Sept 19

Very quiet around the bushes today with just 1 Chiffchaff and a Cetti's Warbler from the raised platform and a Marsh Harrier over the arable. also a few Swallow drifting south.

From the hide :- 225 Greylags, 9 Canada Geese, 34 Teal, 8 Cormorants, 2 Lt. Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 110 Lapwing, 14 BlkWits, 8 Snipe, 1 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 BarWit, 1 Kingfisher (hovering over the scrape and plunge diving for several minutes).

A walk to the wooden hide added 1 Whinchat, 1 Stonechat, 2 Reed Buntings, 6 Meadow Pipits.

Matt Lonsdale

17:00 19:30 Tree Sparrow on sea wall north of boardwalk just flown further towards golf course dump area. Also 11 Stonechat, Whinchat and 5 Wheatear on seawall. 2 Barwit (gc) with 19 Curlew. 8 Snipe, 12 Blackwit, 2 Dunlin, Avocet, 4 Lt Egret on scrape and Marsh Harrier over.

Seawatch - Imm Gannet (n), 6 Sandwich Tern (n), Oystercatcher (s)

Tue 17th Sept 19

Matt Lonsdale

07:00-08:50 
Bushes- 6+ Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Song Thrush, few Goldcrest in bushes. 
Scrape- juv Barwit, 3 Redshank, 3 Avocet, 2 Dunlin, Snipe, 3 Little Egret, Grey Heron, green wing tagged Marsh Harrier. 

Passage- 3 Yellow Wagtails, c100 Mipits (mostly in/off), small pulse of House Martin and Swallow.


Another late start for me today and after filling the feeders I joined Pete Davis at the hide.

From the hide late morning :- 188 Greylag, 17 Canada Geese, 7 Cormorant, 3 Lt. Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 70 Lapwing, 17 Curlew, 4 Snipe, 3 Avocet, 2 Bar T. Godwit, 2 Dunlin, 1 Blk.T. Godwit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 7 Buzzard (1 very plain & grayish bird - kettle of 6 high over arable late morning), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 2 Bearded Tit.

Mon 16th Sept 19

No sign of the Red-backed Shrike this morning, but after eight days of feasting it has entertained many people and would have to move on sometime.
The rest of the site to the sewage works held 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler,  6+ Blackcap + Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Green Woodpecker.

No reports of anything new from the scrape this morning, so much the same I would think.

Bird of the day was this Kingfisher part of a ringing session in the reed bed first thing, more details on the Ringing Page.

Photo Simon Cox©

Matt Lonsdale

19:11 2 Gt.W Egrets heading toward the scrape.
19:45 Great whites went to roost In trees around farm pond, and now a TAWNY OWL calling and seen briefly near dipping pond!.

Sun 15th Sept 19

Had a couple of hours on site this morning and the Red-backed Shrike was still performing in the Dell, lots of visitors again today and everyone was getting great views.
The rest of the site was quite quiet with just the normal stuff around the bushes although Matt Lonsdale did have 4 Goldcrest in one group.

Pete Davis reported that the scrape was also quiet with 1 Barwit (juv), 1 Dunlin, 17 BlkWits, 1 Med Gull (1st sum) and a couple of Bearded Tits.

Sat 14th Sept 19


Matt Lonsdale

07:13 Red backed Shrike still present in badger set, also Spotted Flycatcher in wood south of dell. Pintail just gone over.
07:29 Grey Wagtail over.
08:07 Definite arrival of Lesser Whitethroats almost double figures already this morning.
12:09 18 Buzzards from dell, R B Shrike still on show


Pete Loud

08:25 Scrape,1 Kingfisher, 2 Little Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 12 Blackwits, 3 Snipe, 4 Avocet, 20 Curlew. 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Stonechat & all the commoner Warblers species corner of sewage farm / mounds area.



I managed to get over to the site this afternoon between 15:00 & 17:00 and the Red-backed Shrike was again showing amazingly well, after spending a bit of time in the Dell I had a look around the bushes and a last managed to dig out a Redstart, also noted in this area were good numbers of Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap + Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Green Woodpecker & Kestrel.

Fri 13th Sept 19

Ian Minton

08:32 Red-backed Shrike still in Dell.

12:58 A trip to the farm from 11.00 to 13.00 produced very little apart from 10 Common Buzzard soaring together plus a pair of Shoveler on the pond and a Chiffchaff in the willows and at least 3 Coal Tit in church yard.

Photo Ted Sewell©

Pete Davis

09:52 Merlin across scrape heading towards road bridge. (Greenshank on scrape)


Matt Lonsdale

Haven this morning- Red-backed Shrike still showing extremely well in dell, 2+ Lesser Whitethroat, 2+ Whitethroat, 3+ Blackcap, 2+ Chiffchaff. 
Scrape- 4 Snipe, 9 Blackwit, c35 Teal, 2 Little Egrets, Grey Heron, 15 Curlew (one with white ring). ML/MR
Wheatear and Yellow Wag over.


George Brown

After viewing the R B Shrike in the Dell the rest of the site added 3 Whinchats on fenceposts past wooden hide, 8 Wheatear in total, & on the Scrape 1 Wigeon, 1 Whimbrel, 16 Curlew, and also 1 Buzzard on fence post + 2 Painted Ladies

Thu 12th Sept 19


Matt Lonsdale

06:40-08:00 Red backed Shrike still, 6+ Blackcap, 6+ Chiffchaff, and singles of Willow Warbler, Lesser & Common Whitethroat & Goldcrest. 2 Mistle Thrush, Grey Heron, increase in Chaffinch. Best passage of Mipits of autumn so far plus good movement of Swallows with Sand + House Martins thrown in. Plus a Dunnock in/off and into tamarisk was cool!
17:10 Red-backed Shrike still in the Dell.

When I arrived on site at around 08:30 the Red-backed Shrike was soon showing well in the area between the Badger set and the Dell and once again an hour was spent watching it dispatching the local Bees and Insects with great skill.

The walk to the hide was quiet apart from Lesser & Common Whitethroats & Blackcaps + lots of Swallows & House Martins & a few Sand Martins moving south.

From the hide :- 200 Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, c50 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 2 Grey Heron, 8 Cormorant, 72 Lapwing, 12 BlkWits, 12 Curlew, 3 Avocet, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. DW/MR

Wed 11th Sept 19

Pete Loud

Brief visit this morning, some showers and windy. Scrape,11 Blackwits, 2 Snipe, 2 Avocets, 1 Green Sand, 70 Teal & 1 Marsh Harrier. 1 Sandwich Tern south, several groups of Mixed Swallow & House Martins battling south. 3 Chiffs, 1 Blackcap in Bushes, couldn’t locate Shrike by 9.30.


A late start for me today, I started off around the Dell to look for the Shrike (which had been reported on RBA at 10:17) and managed to relocate it at about 11:00 on the car park side of the Badger set, it showed well for a while before moving back into the Dell.
A walk round the bushes added a Spotted Flycatcher in the clearing over the 5 bar gate, otherwise just the regulars.

The Shrike was showing very well in the Dell until 18:30 at least ML/MM/PB

Photo Trevor Clifford©

Paul Braishaw

19:15 Other bits along seawall - 4 Whinchat (all together), 4 Wheatear and two Whimbrel south.

Tue 10th Sept 19

Pete Loud

08:13 Tree Sparrow top of bushes preening by river authority cottages.Red-backed Shrike still on site.
08:32 Typical autumn type Redstart by moth enclosure.
08:49 Redstart still showing in same area.

A short while later the Redstart could not be re-found but 5+ Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 10+ Reed Bunting and a few Mippits were around the wooden hide PL/DW/DC/AK/MR

The Red-backed Shrike was showing around the mounds first thing but went missing mid-morning, it was soon relocated in the Dell and was showing really well until 17:00 at least.

While watching the Shrike late afternoon we were treated to a Peregrine heading south close offshore and a few minutes late an Osprey drifted overhead heading S/W and 5 Swift also headed south ML/MM/MR.


Matt Lonsdale

Great late afternoon/early evening. Red-backed Shrike still showing superbly in dell, cracking Osprey S, Hobby and 8 Swift south as well as hundreds of hirundines. 6 Snipe, 7 Blackwit and Avocet on scrape + Barn Owl. 8+ Whinchat and 5+ Wheatear around wooden hide but no sign of Redstart. Med gull and Yellow Wag over + few Chiffs and Blackcaps Stonechat, Song Thrush and Gt.S Woodpecker, few Lesser and Common Whitethroat.

Mon 9th Sept 19

Tony Critcher

07:51 Three Grey Wags past sluice along sea wall towards Clacton.
08:07 Red-backed Shrike on brambles between sluice and PLA. pylon.

Matt Lonsdale

Seawatch this morning 6:45-8:10. PL/ML
1 Bonxie, 8 Sandwich Tern and 2 Com Tern N.13 Com Scoter, 13 Shoveler, 15 Shelduck, 40+ Wigeon, 65+ Teal south. Yellow Wag in/off. Red backed shrike still present on mounds, 3 grey wag over.

Paul Braishaw

14:48 Shrike just below the tower about 25 mins ago before moving back towards sluice but not relocated (lunch break time restrictions!). 4 Wheatear along sea wall.



The Red-backed Shrike showed well throughout the day even in the rain, extending it's range to the PLA Pylon for a while. It was on the mounds until 17:00 at least.

From the hide :- 120+ Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, 120+ Teal, 7 Cormorant, 4 Grey Heron, 96 Lapwing, 14 BlkWits, 14 Curlew, 6 Snipe, 3 Avocet, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Harrier.

A ringing session took place this morning see Ringing Page.

Sun 8th Sept 19

A good start for Paul Braishaw this morning, attending the Triathlon he managed to pick up an adult Pomarine Skua heading south at 07:24 & a Great Skua heading North at 08:00 

Pete Loud, Ian Minton & Max Martin undertook a seawatch a little later and although no more skuas were seen a good number of birds were noted including 3 Lt. Tern, Sandwich Tern, Kittiwake, Gannet, Common Scoter & Bar-tailed Godwit. (more detail may follow).

From the hide :- c200 Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, 200+ Teal, 2 Grey Heron, 120+ Lapwing, 3 Avocet, 1 Redshank, 1 Common Sand, 1 Snipe, 1 BlkWit, 1 Med Gull. 
A walk to the wooden hide added 4+ Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 2 Meadow Pipits. PL/MM/MR

Around 14:00 Gloria Lamb reported a Red-backed Shrike in the bushes on the mounds behind the sluice and half an hour later the bird was relocated in the same area and ranged as far as the sea-watching hide to the north. PL/MM/PRD/JH/DC/MR/DP.
Liz Huxley saw the Shrike on the mounds at 18:05

At 18:12 Matt Turner had a Barn Owl quartering the marsh behind the scrape and at 18:34 found the Shrike.

Photo  ©Matt Turner

Matt Lonsdale


20:20 Red backed shrike still present up to 19:30 on mounds. Few groups of Wigeon in/off, 2 Com Scoter and a Gannet north.

Sat 7th Sept 19

Max Martin

25+ Willow Warblers in and around boating compound, Hobby through also.


Paul Braishaw

12:21 Cuckoo just flown north haven greensward.
13:07 Arctic Skua harassing tern to south of haven viewed from sailing club.
Wryneck just showed in dell, bushes seaward side of toilet block.
16:41 Additional haven triathlon sightings of note - 6 Sandwich Tern and four Gannet north, Ring Plover on beach, Sparrowhawk in off and Little Egret south.  Single Wheatear along seawall on the way back.



          

Fri 6th Sept 19

Matt Lonsdale

08:18 Haven this morning- 2 Gt. Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, Lesser and Common Whitethroat. Few Mipits and first Chaffinch of autumn south.


I started the morning looking around the Dell, but no sign of the Wryneck, unfortunately the wind had picked up and it was hard work.
Preparations for this weekends Clacton Triathlon had started on the greensward and by this evening the Dell will be a campsite, over the next couple of days the Haven will be very busy and several restriction will apply to movements around the site.

From the hide :-   127 Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, 8 Cormorants, 15 Curlew, 3 Avocet, 2 BlkWits, 1 Com. Sandpiper. JH/DC/MR.

Thu 5th Sept 19

Pete Loud was on site early this morning and found a Spotted Flycatcher in the small wooded area to the south of the Dell, also in this area were Willow Warbler, Lesser & Common Whitethroats, Blackcap & a Tit flock of Long-tailed, Great & Blue Tits.  2 Sparrowhawk & a Kestrel drifted overhead & 2 Wheatear were on the greensward with 10+ Pied Wags.
Before he left the site Pete and I had another look around the Dell and managed to find the Wryneck in trees in the N/W corner.

Another Willow Warbler was in the orchard area with a few Whitethroats and Blackcaps, a Green Woodpecker and a nice looking Kestrel and a Chiffchaff was near the Sewage works entrance.

From the hide :- 150+ Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, 100+ Teal, 1 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler, c50 Lapwing, 2 Avocet, 2 Common Sands, 1 Green Sand, 6 Curlew, 6 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron.

On the return to the carpark a Wheatear was on the fence at the sea-watching hide,1 of 3 seen by Pete Davis on a walk towards the Frinton end along with a double figure flock of Curlew, and a pair of Stonechat were on the rough ground beside the TDC compound.

Wed 4th Sept 19

A late start because of the heavy rain today, but after about an hour one of the Wrynecks was relocated in the Dell (for it's seventh day) at around 11:00. so far as I know it was not seen again by visiting birders as of 13:00. Peter Newton & Matt Lonsdale both reported seeing it again around 18:00 but it was very elusive and seen to fly from the car park area and return so perhaps it has extended it's range a little.

Whilst searching for the Wryneck 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 30+ House Sparrows & a few Lesser & Common Whitethroats were seen, 4 Turnstone were on the sluice rocks and 3 Sandwich Tern were feeding offshore, 1 Single Wheatear was on the pillbox.

From the Hide :- 160 Greylag, c70 Teal, 2 Grey Heron, c70 Lapwing, 4 BlkWits, 2 Snipe (JH), 1 Curlew, 1 Common Sand, 1 Green Sand, 40+ Swallows.


Paul Braishaw

19:30 Seawall run from Frinton to tower and back v quiet.  Single Wheatear and Swift, two Sand Martin and two Sandwich Tern.

Tue 3rd Sept 19

Both the Wrynecks were seen in the Dell first thing this morning but became very elusive after about 10:00. 
The birds were next reported by Matt Turner around 15:00, will they still be around in the morning?. Also seen by Matt were 2 Whinchat between the hide and the moth sanctuary and 8 Wheatear along the seawall.

From the Hide :- 160+ Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, c60 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 5 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 62 Lapwing, 12 BlkWit's, 7 Avocet, 15 Curlew (over), 3 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, DW/MM/MT/MR

Around the bushes was very quiet with just a few Willow Warblers, Blackcaps & Whitethroats, 6 Sand Martin were in with Swallow moving south and a Gt. Spotted Woodpecker was on the peanut feeder in the Feeding Stn.

Mon 2nd Sept 19

At least one Wryneck was still in the Dell this morning, 5+ Willow Warblers were around the bushes along with Lesser & Common Whitethroat & Blackcaps. 3 Wheatear & c15 Pied Wagtails were on the greensward & a few Sand Martin were in with the Swallow overhead.

From the hide :- 168 Greylag, 6 Canada Geese, 54 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 7 Avocet, 6 Snipe, 10 BlkWits, 75 Lapwing, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk. PRD/DW/BH/MM/MR

On the way back to the car park 2 Oystercatcher were on the Boating Club rocks & 14 Turnstone headed south over he mounds. 

An Ospray was reported drifting over the site towards Frinton late afternoon M&BC.