Tue 31st Dec 19

Very quiet on the scrape this morning, as it was throughout the site, the Purple Sandpiper was on the seawall a Turnstone on the sluice rocks and 270 Wigeon were sitting on the sea first thing but not much else.
From the hide : c250 Greylag, 176 Teal, 14 Shelduck, 6 Shoveler, 6 Wigeon, c150 Lapwing, 12 Curlew, 3 Kestrel. ML/DW/MR
A Coal Tit was again on the feeders with Blue & Gt. Tits, Greenfinch, Chaffinch & Robin


Pete Loud

14:10 1/2 hour seawatch from 12pm, 20+ Red-throats, all north, 1 Gt. Crested Grebe, 3 Gadwall south, 250 Wigeon sitting on the sea. 1 Peregrine on ploughed field, 1 Purple Sand on wall by Sluice, 37 Curlew on marsh and a pair of Stonechat on Golf Course.



It all starts again tomorrow, lets hope there are a few more birds about to get the year list off to a good start, have a great night, stay safe and all the best for the New Year.

Mon 30th Dec 19

Heading to the end of the year with very little change, the single Purple Sandpiper was about first thing but missing later in the morning and Dave Welham had the Coal Tit on the feeders.

From the hide : 6 Mute Swans, c250 Greylag, c 90 Brent (for a while), 6 Canada's (Hybrids), c500 Teal, 36 Wigeon, 15 Shoveler, 12 Shelduck, 3 Cormorant, c200 Lapwing, 15+ Snipe, 1 BlkWit, 1 Lt. Grebe, 1 Water Rail, 2 Peregrine, 2 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 1 Redwing, 1 Yellowhammer. DW/JH/MR et al.

Sun 29th Dec 19

Much the same this morning, although c500 Brent dropping in for a wash was nice as were views of Peregrine, Water Rail, Kingfisher (very brief) and Water Vole. + Purple Sandpiper.

From the hide : 2 Mute Swans, c500 Brent, 250 Greylag, 6 Canada (hybrids), c500 Teal, 30 Wigeon, 15 Shoveler, 14 Shelduck, c100 Lapwing, 10 Snipe, 1 BlkWit, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher (fly through), 1 Water Rail, 1 Water Vole. PL/MR et al.

On the return a single Purple Sandpiper was again on the seawall north of the sluice and a R T Diver headed north. PL/MR

Sat 28th Dec 19

Jonn Hall

Approach to hide rather soggy, but nice to be back after my Christmas absence. Water very high and at first glance, lowish bird numbers but will have a proper count. Actually a lot better than I thought. 140+ Greylag C 160 Lapwings 190 + Teal couldn’t actually find a single Wigeon but I could have missed the odd one . 12 Shovelers 9  Shelduck Family of Mute Swans dropped in 2 Adults 2 Cygnets 10 Mallard on pond 8 Canada/hi-brid just arrived. No Raptors or Owls. Leaving hide at 11.07.

I had another wander to the hide late morning, c 200 Wigeon were sitting on the sea off the sluice, 3 R T Divers went N.

From the hide : c140 Greylag, 6 Canada's, 6 Mute Swans, c 500 Teal, 13 Shoveler, 11 Shelduck, 6 Wigeon, 100+ Lapwing, 12 Snipe, 2 Curlew (over), 1 BlkWit, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, 3 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Water Rail.

On the return a single Purple Sandpiper was on the seawall beside the sluice.

Fri 27th Dec 19

What a great morning, my first birding walk for 10 days after being laid up over Christmas with a virus. After filling the feeders a walk to the hide added 2 Purple Sandpipers on the seawall near the sluice, c50 Wigeon headed out to sea and 12 Brent headed south.

From the hide : 200+ Greylag, 6 Canada Geese, 500+ Teal, 16 Shoveler, 15 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, a few Wigeon, c100 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 BlkWit, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. + 1 Water Vole (in front of the hide). PL/ML/MR et al.

On the return 4 Purple Sands were on the seawall, a few R T Divers were moving around offshore and sitting on the sea were 3 Gadwall + 12 Brent & 6 Shelduck headed (S) & 3 Cormorants headed (N).

  

Wed 25th Dec 19


Christmas day, and its been a beautiful sunny day for a change, Max Martin managed to get out for a walk and enjoy the Purple Sandpipers still around the sluice this morning.

Photo Max Martin©

Photo Max Martin©

Tue 24th Dec 19


Pete Davis

11:41 4 Purple Sandpipers on the sluice.

Mon 23rd Dec 19

Pete Loud

09:01 Goldcrest entrance rd, Coal Tit feeders, 3 Purple Sand Sluice.

13:07 Long walk around site today, plenty of birds, particularly on the flooded areas, but little of note. Best was 1 Female Peregrine, 1 juv Male Marsh Harrier, 3 Stonechat, 8 Shoveler, lots of Teal, a few Wigeon, setaside at back of marsh, 40+ Linnets, 15 Corn Bunting and a few Chaffinch, Greenfinch & Reed Buntings.

Photo Matt Lonsdale©

Sun 22nd Dec 19

Matt Lonsdale

12:11 Couple of hours late morning. A bit more water than usual. c600 Teal on scrape and surrounding flood. Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk. Stonechat, Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swans. 10+ Red T. Divers over the sea and a couple of Com Gulls the lot.


Emyr Jones

12:18 About ten Common Gulls feeding with the flocks of Black-headed and Herring gulls on golf course. One Blk-headed Gull thinks it’s still summer!  One Turnstone on breakwater by Frinton huts.

Sat 21st Dec 19

Everyone must be busy with Christmas shopping.

No reports again today.

Fri 20th Dec 19


Feeling a bit under the weather at the moment so not out and about. 
No reports received so far'

Thu 19th Dec 19

Just one report from today

Pete Davis

11:31 9 Pintail (s).
11:56 1 Blk. T Diver (s).

Wed 18th Dec 19

Another short visit for me today, I arrived just too late to pick up the Red-necked Grebe and Razorbill reported by Paul heading south off Frinton but lots of R T Divers were on the move offshore.
I joined Dave Welham & Dave Cummings in the hide to find things still much the same, the Kingfisher had been on display earlier but not for me.

From the hide : Greylag, 6 Canada's, 200+ of Teal & Wigeon, 5 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, a few Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 BlkWit, 1 Turnstone, 1 Lt. Grebe, 1 Kingfisher (DW/DC), 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl. DW/DC/MR.

On the return the single Purple Sandpiper was on the seawall beside the sluice.

Tue 17th Dec 19

Not on site today but I would think it was very wet, no reports received so far.

Mon 16th Dec 19

Short visit today with my Grandson, to fill the feeders and a quick visit to the hide.

From the hide : c80 Greylag (+ the Hybrid), c250 Wigeon, c200 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 5 Shelduck, 5 Cormorant, 100+ Lapwing, 1 Snipe 1 Lt. Grebe, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Peregrine. PRD/MR/FR.

Hybrid Goose with Greylags

Note : The Site History has now been updated

Sun 15th Dec 19

Not on site today and no reports received so far.

Sat 14th Dec 19

On the way to the hide a single Purple Sandpiper was again on the seawall just north of the sluice.
From the hide :- 120+ Greylag, 6 Canada Geese, 290 Wigeon, 220 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 4 Shelduck, c200 Lapwing, 2 Lt. Grebe, 1 Peregrine, 2 Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl. SC/PL/MR.

Kestrel with Lunch

Also noted were a small group of Redwing along the car park hedge first thing and still present mid afternoon PL/IM


Matt Lonsdale

11:19 Farm quiet this morning. Corn Bunting, Stonechat, 2 Redwing, Buzzard, lots of Blackbirds.


Peter Newton

15:11 Shag flying south from  shelter, landed and is currently on view.


John Hall

15:13 PM visit to hide. Water level noticeably higher than Friday. Large mixed flock of Wigeon and Teal C450. Total 8 Shoveler, 5 Cormorants, 4 Mallard, 1 flyover Little Egret, no Greylag or Canada on scrape or surrounds, 15.00 Wigeon numbers just increased by 100+ plus 3 Shelduck, Little  Grebe, and Moorhen in  Mick’s clearing, small flock Lapwing over. Barn Owl just arrived (light backed one) getting cold time to go 15.10.

Fri 13th Dec 19

John Hall

11:05
From the Hide : generally numbers down 100+ Greylag, fewer Teal and Wigeon C200, total 5 Shoveler (4 drake 1 duck), 3 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, largish flock of Lapwing left as I arrived, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Little Grebe, no sighting of Peregrine or Barn Owl, 6 Cormorant, no bird on surrounding arable. Departing 11.10.


A late start for me today so I had a 90 min seawatch from the shelter 11:30 to 13:00. which produced 17 Cormorants (s), 22 Red T. Diver ( 5 sitting on the sea-12 (s)-5 (n), 1 Blk. T. Diver (s), 2 Brent (s) MR.


Ian Minton

14:20
3 Redwing and a Song Thrush feeding around the picnic tables by the upper car park plus group of 12 Collared Doves flew towards dipping pond.

Thu 12th Dec 19

Another very quiet morning at the Haven with a cold onshore wind.

From the hide : a few Greylag, Wigeon & Teal, 4 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 250+ Brent (dropped in for a wash & brush up), 5 Cormorant, 1 Lt. Grebe, c300 Lapwing (on arable), 1 BlkWit, 4 Curlew, 5+ Snipe (in flight), 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. PRD/DC/CB/MR.

An attempt at a seawatch lasted just long enough to see a R T Diver land on the sea and a poss. Skua sp. heading south before our optics were rendered useless by heavy rain. Time for lunch. DC/MR


   

Wed 11th Dec 19


All very much the same today, the top bird for me being a single Purple Sandpiper on the seawall beside the sluice.

From the hide : 200+ Greylag, 6 Canada's, c150 Wigeon, c150 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, c200 Lapwing, 4 BlkWits, 5 Cormorants, 2 Lt. Grebe, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Stonechat. JH/DW/MR

Lots of birds on the feeders again today, incl. the Coal Tit, a Song Thrush was in the Dell and there were lots of Blackbirds around.

A 30 min seawatch gave half a dozen R T Divers loitering offshore, 3 Cormorant & 1 Gt. C. Grebe heading south. DW/MR

Tue 10th Dec 19

A couple of Common Scoter were heading south as I headed to the hide, very windy with some big black clouds around.

From the hide : 230 Greylag, 6 Canada (hybrids), 150 Wigeon, 100 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 9 Cormorant, c300 Lapwing (on arable), 1 Peregrine, 3 Kestrel.

Peter Newton had been seawatching from the shelter and had 25 Common Scoter, 2 R T Diver & 5 Wigeon while I was at the hide, and as it wasn't too exciting there I went and had a look out to sea myself for an hour from the sluice adding, 1 Bonxie, 14 Brent, 7 Shelduck, 8 Wigeon, 2 Common Scoter, 1 R. T. Diver, 2 Cormorants, 1 Guillemot (south) & 1 Common Scoter (north). Just after I stopped for lunch Peter had a Blk. T. Diver (south).

Mon 9th Dec 19

A brisk and cold N/W wind was blowing this morning and a few minutes looking out to sea gave 9 R. T. Divers sitting on the sea off the sailing club and a further 7 heading north, but not much else JH/MR

From the hide : 124 Greylag, 6 Canada's, 9 Cormorants, c220 Wigeon, c200 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 3 Shelduck, c200 Lapwing, 2 Lt. Grebe, 2 Peregrine, 2 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard. JH/MR

A 30 min seawatch from the sluice on the way back was all change with just half a dozen R.T. Divers moving around, but 38 Cormorant (35s-3n). MR 

Sun 8th Dec 19

Pete Loud

10:25 Brisk WSW wind this morning. Plenty of wildfowl on the Scrape now the water level has risen, Wigeon 150+, Teal 250+, Shoveler 8, Shelduck 2, Brent 150, Blackwit 4, 22 Curlew & 1 Bar-tailed Godwit flew over. Walk to Frinton beach huts, 1 Little Egret, 2 Rock Pipit.


A few extras late morning from the hide : Greylag & Canada's, c280 Lapwing, 4 Lt. Grebe & 1 Water Rail in front of the hide, 1 Grey Heron at back of scrape, 5 Cormorant, 3 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel + 1 Grey Wagtail (fly over). ML/MM/MR.

A single Turnstone was on the sluice & a single Stonechat in the Dell.

A 20 min Seawatch added 6 R T Divers (5S 1n) and a Cormorant (s). MR

Sat 7th Dec 19

A 90 min seawatch with Peter Newton and later joined by Max Martin, gave good numbers of R.T. Divers & Cormorant offshore, totals not easy to asses with birds moving north, south & sitting on the sea but 40-50 of each wouldn't be a bad guess, also 3 Gt. Crested Grebes.


John Hall

Scrape very much as usual, large mixed flock Wigeon and Teal, 8 Shoveler, 300+ Greylag + Canada hybrid family, 4 Cormorant,  c40 Lapwings, 2 Barn Owls, no Brent visible on scrape or arable, a small group of Starlingsl + 2 Shelduck and Grey Heron to add.


Paul Brayshaw

Late pm along seawall from Frinton to wooden hide and back.  2 Stonechat, 300 Brent on fields behind golf course and a few Red-throats offshore. No sign of any owls for us today.


Peter Newton

Short-eared and Barn Owl showed well this p.m.

Fri 6th Dec 19

Not around today and no reports received so far.

Thu 5th Dec 19

Quiet again today. Two Stonechat were in the Badger set area as I drove in, a large number of birds are using the feeders at the moment with Gt. Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Robin & Chaffinch in and out all the time. The walk to the hide added 2 Turnstone on the sluice rocks with the gulls and a raft of 100+ Wigeon sitting on the sea (the scrape being frozen again first thing).

From the hide :- 235 Greylag, 6 Canada Geese, c300 Brent (on the arable), c100 Teal (on the non frozen pond), c100 Lapwing (on arable), 2 Curlew, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Lt. Grebe, 1 Water Rail (in front of hide), 2 Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl. DW/MR

Wed 4th Dec 19

A look around the bushes this morning showed still lots of Blackbirds about and 20+ Magpies making a lot of noise, 2 Lt. Grebe were on the brook below the raised platform as were a dozen Teal, also noted were Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tits, L. T. Tits & Gt. Tits +  Coal Tit on the feeders.
Two Stonechat were near the TDC compound, 2 Turnstone were with the gull flock on the sluice rocks, 5 Mute Swans were sitting on the sea just north of the sluice (2 ad 3 juv.) and an Oystercatcher headed north.

From the hide :- c500 Brent, 260+ Greylag, 6 Canada Geese, c200 Teal, 150+ Wigeon, 2 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, c100 Lapwing (on arable), 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Lt Grebe, 2 Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl. DW/MR

A single Snow Bunting was was on the golf club track behind the Whalings beach huts at the Frinton end, viewable from the Haven. MR

George Brown had a look from the pillbox between 14:30 & 15:15 and noted Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Barn Owl and 2 S E Owls that were hunting over the marsh between the hide and the golf course.

Tue 3rd Dec 19

On route to the hide this morning at least 8 GBB Gulls were in a mixed flock on the sluice rock and 3 Turnstone were on the beach. 
I joined Dave Cummings in the hide to find the scrape almost completely frozen, just a couple of Wigeon were in with the Greylags and Canada Geese on the grass in front of the hide as was the single Redshank and things were looking grim. While searching the Greylags for the missing White Front a Snipe was noticed on the edge of the reeds on the left of the scrape that turned out to be a Jack Snipe. CB/DC/MR

A Barn Owl had been at the back of the scrape again today and a short while later 2 S. E. Owls were seen to the right of the hide harassed by a Buzzard they climbed high above the marsh and were interacting together before dropping down and in the grass to the right of the hide.

Mon 2nd Dec 19

A 40 min seawatch started the day for me and it was very quiet, with just 3 R. T. Diver (1s 2n), 2 Greylags (s), 2 Com. Scoter, 1 Shelduck, (n), 5 Cormorant (3n 2s).

From the hide :- c400 Brent & c200 Lapwing on the arable, c200 Greylag, 6 Canada (hybrids), c250 Teal, c150 Wigeon, 7 Shoveler, 4 Shelduck, 3 Cormorant,1 Redshank, 1 Water Rail (heard only), 2 Barn Owl, 3 Kestrel. JH/MR

2 Turnstone were on the sluice rocks with a large number of Gulls, 2 Stonechat were near the TDC compound.


Paul Brayshaw

12:42 Ringtail just flown across fields below church and lost from view towards Frinton tennis club. Viewed from seawall inside boundary.
12:51 No sign of any Snow Buntings along golf course seawall and bridle path for me this morning.


John Hall

15:51 A pleasant stroll from Golf Club to 2nd pill box failed to produce target Snow Buntings but consolation S E Owl over 8th fairway made effort worthwhile. Also noted Stonechat and Reed Bunting.

Sun 1st Dec 19

Another good day at the Haven, I managed to get over there to have a walk to the Frinton end to pick up Snow Bunting for a year tick.
A round up of all today's species from Matt Lonsdale below and some great pictures from Max Martin.

Photo Max Martin©

Roundup of today at haven.

Seawatch produced 2 Velvet Scoter, Goosander, 10 Eider, 3 Gannet, 2 Kittiwake, lots of Common Gulls north. Also 20+ Common Scoter, 10 Teal, 10+ R T Diver.
 Along seawall where 2 Snow Bunting (actually on bridlepath near raised tee), Red-breasted Merganser (fem), 2+ Rock Pipit. 
From hide the White-fronted Goose still with Greylags, Water Rail calling, Redshank, 205 Brent (52 juvs). 
Chiffchaff and 2 Stonechats (PRD) in dell, and a flyby Peregrine + other bits and bobs. The Velvet Scoters where the recording areas 190th species this year. The joint highest total since 2008 as far as I’m aware, and still 1 month to go!

Photo Max Martin©

Photo Max Martin©

Photo Max Martin©