Fri 31st Jan 20


Not much change for the end to the month, hopefully February will bring some improvments.
The Black Swan was again with c70 Greylag on the marsh north/west of the carpark with a lot of Gulls, no sign of the Purple Sandpipers on the front this morning.
From the hide 2 Greylag, Wigeon, Teal, 8 Shelduck, c400 Lapwing, c30 Golden (flew through), 14 Curlew, 12 Snipe, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel. JH/DW/MR


  At the end of January the total number of species recorded stands at 85

Thu 30th Jan 20

Things were much the same again this morning, a look out to sea mid morning showed quite a few R T Divers feeding offshore and Cormorant moving north and south, 3 Purple Sandpipers flew south and were lost to view around the sluice rocks, otherwise very poor.
A single Peregrine was up on the arable, half a dozen Snipe and 500+ Lapwing were the highs from the hide along with the normal Greylag, Canada's, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Shelduck. DC/MR.

Wed 29th Jan 20

Another uneventful day today. The Black Swan was with the Greylags who had relocated to the pools below the raised platform along with a lot of ducks and gulls.
A few Goldfinch, Blackbirds and a Song Thrush were around the bushes, the feeders were busy, but it was very quiet along the front.
From the hide : 12 Canada Geese (6 Adults + 1 Adult & 5 hybrids), Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck & Shoveler, c300 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 2 Yellowhammers, Reed & Corn Buntings.  JH/MR

Tue 28th Jan 20

No sign of the Purple Sandpipers first thing, but by lunch time with the rising tide all 4 were back on the seawall north of the sluice.

From the hide : c80 Greylag, 10 Canada's, Wigeon, Teal, 18 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, c300 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 2 BlkWit's, 1 Curlew + a few Golden Plover on the arable late morning, 3 Kestrel, 2 Buzzards. 20 + R T Divers were feeding offshore but otherwise very quiet out to sea. BW/DC/MR

Mon 27th Jan 20

Very quiet today, no sign of the Black Swan or Greylags. From the hide : 2 Canada Geese (adults), Wigeon, Teal, 14 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, c400 Lapwing, c100 Golden Plover (with Lapwing first thing but didn't return with Laps when flushed), 3 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 2 Peregrine, 2 Kestrel, Reed & Corn Buntings. PRD/DW/BH/MR et al.
3 Purple Sandpipers were on the seawall & 6+ R T Divers were sitting on the sea + 7 Brent, 10 Cormorant headed North, 4 Cormorants & 4 RT Divers headed south MR.


John Hall

16:02 PM visit to Scrape Hide. Very quiet 160 Lapwing on Scrape 60 Wigeon on pond 2 Shelduck 2 adult Canada on grazing marsh only 2 Snipe visible (to me) 12+ Corn Bunting on back hedge near 3rd Owl box also a few smaller birds that I could not identify but probably Linnets. Pair Mallard on Leon’s Marsh Kestrel on back hedge near set-aside. No Teal and only 2 Greylag observed. Just found 10 Snipe by small island with vegetation on it. No sign of Black Swan or Canada/hybrid family. On way in feeders were very busy with Blue and Great Tits also Coal Tit, Robin, Chaffinch and House Sparrow. Red Kite on back hedge unfortunately not avian variety. 16.00 light failing home time.

Sun 26th Jan 20

Another winters day at the Haven with very little change, but there is always something to make it worthwhile. 4 Purple Sandpipers on the seawall was a good start, the Black Swan (however plastic) is an impressive bird when flying around the scrape, a Water Rail & and a Kestrel hunting near the hide + meeting up with the Brightlingsea boys in the hide all in one morning. 

From the hide : 1 Black Swan, c100 Greylag, 10 Canada's, c200 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 12 Shelduck, 6 Shoveler, c600 Lapwing, 12 Curlew, 7 Snipe, 2 BlkWit's, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Water Rail, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, PL/IM/ML/MM/MR et al.

Sat 25th Jan 20

Three Purple Sandpipers (1 on the sluice, 2 on seawall) and the Norwegian Rock Pipit ringed "Z66" were the best of the day.

From the hide : 1 Black Swan, Greylag, Canada's, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, Shoveler (as of late), c500 Lapwing, 9 Snipe, 5 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrel, Corn & Reed Buntings. IM/MM/JH/MR

Offshore was quiet with a few Cormorants & a single R T Diver heading south.
The Coal Tit was on the feeders with a lot of Tits & a few Finches. IM/MM/MR 

Fri 24th Jan 20

Another very quiet day today, nothing offshore apart from a few Great Black-Backed Gulls and a single Purple Sandpiper on the seawall north of the sluice.

From the hide the Black Swan was on the scrape today along with the normal Greylag, Canada's, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, and Shoveler, c400 Lapwing, 9+ Snipe, 8 Curlew, 3 BlkWit's, 1 Water Rail (showed well today), 1 Grey Heron, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, Corn & Reed Bunting, Linnet & Yellowhammer. DW/DC/MR

The Coal Tit was again on the busy feeders and several Blackbird & Song Thrush were around the carpark.

Thu 23rd Jan 20


I thought it was supposed to be dry this week, this " Low Cloud " is wetter than the rain.

On the way into the site today 10+ Blackbirds and 5 Song Thrush were in the car park, along the bottom hedge, 2 Purple Sandpipers were on the sluice. On the marsh a Black Swan was with the Greylags, not a species for the year list but a nice change.

From the hide : 158 Greylag, 8 Canada Geese, c300 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 11 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, c550 Lapwing, 23 Snipe, 2 BlkWits, 2 Curlew, 1 Water Rail, 2 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Common Gulls, Blk Headed & Herring Gulls, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Pied Wagtail. CB/MR
On the way back the newly filled feeders were busy with a good assortment of passerines including a nice flock of Greenfinch. MR

Wed 22nd Jan 20

A very nice morning, with no wind it felt a lot warmer than the last few days.  
Bird wise, the Dell held 8+ Blackbird, 3 Song Thrush, a small flock of Goldfinch, House Sparrows, Greenfinch & Chaffinch.
A Ringed Plover (NFY) and a Purple Sandpiper were on the sluice, but otherwise things were much the same. 

The early morning mist cleared slowly but visibility was not good all morning.
From the hide : 150 Greylag, 8 Canada Geese (3 adults 5 hybrid juvs), 250+ Wigeon, c50 Teal, 9 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, 176 Lapwing, 30+ Golden Plover (on arable), 3 Snipe, 1 BlkWit, 1 Curlew, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. DW/JH/DC/MR 
The feeders were quite busy on the way out incl. the Coal Tit. DW/DC/MR 

Around 13:20 Dave Cummings had 2 Goldcrest in the trees behind the raised platform.

Tue 21st Jan 20

Another quiet day at the Haven but the sunshine made it a good day for a wander round.
A single Purple Sandpiper was on the seawall north of the sluice but nothing was moving offshore. Bird of the day was an Oystercatcher on the marsh, a new bird for the Haven site year list.

The scrape was frozen, so very quiet but a few bits around the marsh.
From the hide : c100 Greylag, 8 Canada's, c200 Wigeon (on the pond), a few Teal, 11 Shelduck, 7 Shoveler, c200 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, 1 BlkWit, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 2 Stonechat, c120 Corn Buntings + Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Linnet on the back hedge.

Mon 20th Jan 20

Not much change today, nothing much offshore apart from c250 Wigeon and a few Gulls.
From the hide : c100 Greylag, 8 Canada Geese (2 adults were on the sea when I left), c100 Wigeon (part of the flock from offshore prob.), c100 Teal, 11 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, c500 Lapwing, 12 Snipe, 2 Curlew, 1 BlkWit, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Peregrine, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, + a lot of Bunting & Finches along the back hedge. PRD/JH/DW/BH/MR.

Sun 19th Jan 20

A much better day today weather wise with lots of sunshine, and not a bad selection of birds either. The pair of Peregrine were up on the arable first thing with a kill, and gave us a bit of fun mid morning by having a dog-fight with the local Buzzard, a Fieldfare (NFY) flew over the scrape and landed on the back hedge for a while, c140 Golden Plover flew through and out over Gt. Holland, 2 Bearded Tits (MM/ML) and a Kingfisher (MM) were also seen.

From the hide : A few Greylag, 8 Canada's, c80 Wigeon + (c150 sitting on the sea), c100 Teal, 9 Shelduck, 7 Shoveler, c500 Lapwing, 9 Snipe, 4 Curlew, 4 Golden Plover, 2 BlkWit's, 2 Bearded Tit, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Barn Owl,  2 Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier (green wing tags "L6"), 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. ML/MM/MR/ et al.

A short seawatch on the way home added 6 R T Diver, 15+ Cormorants milling around offshore and 22 Brent heading south.


     

Sat 18th Jan 20

Things were much the same today, on the way down to the hide the feeders were busy (the Coal Tit had been seen earlier), c150 Wigeon were sitting on the sea and a Stonechat was near the pillbox.
From the Hide : Greylags, Canada's, Wigeon & Teal were as normal, 11 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, c500 Lapwing, 12 Snipe, 3 BlkWits, 3 Curlew, 2 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard + + a good number of Finches & Buntings along the back hedge. JH/MR


Pete Loud

 16:31 Pretty quiet around site this afternoon, but a very pleasant walk none the less. 2 Barn Owls hunting over the marsh, 2 Blackwit, 1 Curlew, 15+Snipe, 4 Shoveler and the usual Teal & Wigeon on Scrape, 1 Peregrine over. 1 Little Egret, entrance marsh, 1 Purple Sandpiper & 1 Turnstone on rocks near Sluice. 3 pairs of Stonechat between Hide and Frinton end of Golf Course.

Fri 17th Jan 20

Not on site today, went in search of the Green-winged Teal.


John Hall

PM visit to hide in search of Yellowhammer, so far Barn Owl quartering the field behind 3rd Owl box. Tall hedge/tree to left of box held at least  12 Corn Buntings. Virtually no time spent looking at scrape but did hear Water Rail. Large flock of Greylag with Wigeon and Teal mixed in on grazing marsh also Canada/Hybrid family. Light starting to fade time to go sadly no Yellowhammer but just had group of small birds prob finches on bush next to Owl box 16.05.

Thu 16th Jan 20

A chilly wind blowing in off the sea made it feel colder than it should have this morning,
No sign of much on the sea or around the sluice first thing.
From the hide : 4 Mute Swans, c150 Greylag, 8 Canada Geese, c100 Teal, c100 Wigeon, 12 Shelduck, 1 Shoveler, c500 Lapwing, 9 Snipe, 4 Curlew, 3 BlkWit's, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Bearded Tit (fem). 
Along the back hedge Corn & Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Linnet & Yellowhammer. DW/CB/MR et al

Wash & brush up time for the Peregrine.

If you left anything in the hide this morning call me on 07976716337

Wed 15th Jan 20

When I arrived at the Haven this morning I thought it was going to be a complete wash out, but it turned out to be OK.
A lot of birds were using the feeders incl. Blue, Coal & Gt. Tits, Greenfinch, Chaffinch & Robin. A look out to sea gave 3 Red T Divers & 2 Gt. Crested Grebe sitting on the sea not far out & 4 more Divers + c150 Wigeon a bit further out.
From the hide : 172 Greylag, 8 Canada Geese (3 adults 5 juv hybrids), c100 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 16 Shelduck, c500 Lapwing, 22+ Snipe, 7 Curlew, 1 Water Rail, 3 Barn Owls, 2 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard. 

The Back hedge near the set aside field was very busy with c30 Corn Bunting, Linnets, Reed Buntings and finches + at least 1 Yellowhammer all viewed from the hide

Tue 14th Jan 20

Very windy again today with rain from late morning. A Peregrine was on the arable first thing viewed from the lay-by, the Lt Egret was still on the marsh north of the approach road and a single Purple Sandpiper was on the seawall beside the sluice. A short seawatch showed around 8 R T Diver and c200 Wigeon sitting on the sea but not much else.  MR.

From the hide : 4 Mute Swans, c200 Greylag, 8 Canada Geese (3 Adults 5 juv. hybrids), 1 Brent Goose (a large flock were seen just before I arrived), 140 Teal, 20 Wigeon, 18 Shoveler, 14 Shelduck, c600 Lapwing, 19 Snipe, 8 Curlew, 1 BlkWit, 1 Water Rail (heard only), 1 Marsh Harrier (with Green wingtags), 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. SC/DC/MR.


   

Mon 13th Jan 20

Liz Huxley

13:33 This morning:- 3 Purple Sandpipers by sluice; Scrape c400 Lapwing, 9 Snipe, 2 Kestrel, 11 Curlew, 1 Water Rail, heard Beardies.

Sun 12th Jan 20

Pete Loud

10:06 Seawatch for an hour or so still at least 6 Gt-crested Grebes feeding close offshore, 30+ R T Divers, a few feeding just offshore and 2 Adult Kittiwakes south.Too sunny to continue so going to checkout our newly decorated Hide.
14:53 Late morning,early afternoon Scrape,1 Peregrine, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kingfisher (NFY), 15 Snipe, 2 Blackwit, 12 Shoveler, 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Curlew, 5 Corn Bunting & 20+Linnets. Norwegian Ringed Rock Pipit on seawall, 3 Purple Sands. Short Seawatch produced 2 separate pairs of Pintail south & 2 Guillemot (NFY) north.(IM,MM,PL).


Matt Turner

10:56 Pair Stonechat and 3 Purple Sands showing well.
13:02 Coal Tit on feeders.

Sat 11th Jan 20

Not a great deal to talk about this morning, the high points were a Kittiwake (NFY) offshore for Pete and Ian along with a group of 8 Gt. Crested Grebes sitting on the sea, otherwise just a few Cormorants and R T Divers. 
A walk along the approach road added a Lt. Egret on the marsh to the north, a single Goldcrest in a large Tit flock, a Jay and a Gt. S Woodpecker. On the front 2 Purple Sandpipers were on the seawall near the sluice PL/IM/MM/MR.


The work on the hide has now been completed and it was open again from around lunch time.

Fri 10th Jan 20

Unfortunately the floor paint in the hide has not dried, so the hide is still closed at the moment.

Things looked much the same from the pillbox this morning but the chill NW wind was making it difficult to stop the eyes watering. A single Peregrine was on the track across the arable and a Buzzard over the marsh, a pair of Stonechat were on the hedge by the hide gate.
Out of the wind on the seawall 3 Purple Sandpipers were again very obliging, showing down to a few feet.

The Coal Tit was in the bushes to the left of the 5 bar gate and a Kestrel was having a late Breakfast.

John Hall

45 minute sea watch, great visibility very little to see. 3 Cormorants 2N 1S, 1 RTD N, 2 Mallard, 1 GBB Gull on water a handful of Herring Gulls. On return to car 1 Song Thrush in Dell, 1 Kes on wire over dipping pond. From lay-by 1 Barn Owl.

Thu 9th Jan 20

Not on site again today, just a couple of reports from this morning.


Dennis Pryor

09:30 Greenfinch and Coal Tit on feeders.
09:39 Three Purple Sandpiper in usual place.


Dave Cummings

10:42 Peregrine on arable to right of hide. (Hide still closed - viewed from pillbox).

Wed 8th Jan 20

A half hour seawatch this morning showed that there were still a lot of Cormorants and R T Diver offshore but not much else, just 2 Shelduck and 2 Brent were noted heading south.
Simon & Pat Cox had some nets up in the Ringing Compound and Feeding Stn. and quite a number of Gt. & Blue Tits were being processed when called in to see them.
On the seawall near the sluice 4 Purple Sandpipers were showing well down to a few feet at times and a Turnstone was on the sluice. 250+ Wigeon were sitting on the sea.

Hand held phone shot

As work continues on the hide I had a look over the marsh from the pillbox and noted : 4 Mute Swans, 75+ Greylag, 8 Canada Geese (2 new adults joined the adult & 5 hybrids),150 Teal, 30 Wigeon, 14 Shoveler, 8 Shelduck, c250 Lapwing, 8 Curlew, 2 Snipe, 1 BlkWit, 1 Lt Egret, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. 2 Barn Owls were seen late afternoon.

Tue 7th Jan 20

Not on site today, had a great day at Abberton. No reports received so far.

Mon 6th Jan 20

A bit of a non day at the Haven today, still c80 Cormorants moving about offshore but Red T Diver no's were well down.
From the hide : No sign of the White-fronted Geese today but c250 Brent dropped into the scrape for a wash and c150 Greylag, 6 Canada Hybrids, 150 Teal, 30 Wigeon, 6 Shelduck, 9 Shoveler, c300 Lapwing, 20 Snipe, 3 Kestrel were around the scrape. Numbers were probably similar to yesterday but quite a few birds were on the scrape below the raised platform, incl. 2 BlkWit's

Please be aware that the Main Hide will be closed from tomorrow for approx. three days for redecoration.

Sun 5th Jan 20

Three new birds for the year list today, a Lt Egret was on the marsh to the north of the approach road when I drove in this morning, Matt had a Pintail in with the Wigeon offshore after lunch and Paul Brayshaw added a Lt. Owl late afternoon.

From the hide : 4 Mute Swans,c400 Brent, c200 Greylag, 16 White-fronted Geese, 6 Canada Hybrids, c150 Teal, 100 Wigeon, 12 Shelduck, 11 Shoveler, c300 Lapwing, 18 Curlew, 9 Snipe, 2 Buzzards, 2 Peregrine, 3 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Stonechat, 1 Lt. Egret (to the right of the hide) could have been a second bird as the other was still in the same place as earlier when we left.
A single Purple Sandpiper was on the seawall   MM/MR   


Ian Minton

10:02 16 White-fronted Geese on marsh to right of hide plus Coal Tit on feeders.
10:36 Goldcrest by 5 bar gate.


Max Martin

10:42 Female Marsh Harrier to right of hide.
11:25 Peregrine on track to right of hide.


Matt Lonsdale

14:36 Drake Pintail In Wigeon flock offshore.
15:54 10+ Whitefronts still, Barn Owl, Peregrine and Blackwit still from pillbox.


Paul Brayshaw

16:29 Wander along seawall and around golf course to dusk - distant group Whitefronts, Barn Owl as per Matt plus Little Owl (golf course outbuildings/back hedge) and two Stonechat.  Masses of Cormorant offshore today (> 500 net south from a couple of sessions looking out to sea from Frinton) plus 150+ Red-throated Divers.

Sat 4th Jan 20

Not so much moving offshore today but a good day around the site in general with 3 birds added to the year list in the form of Sparrowhawk, Bearded Tit & LBB Gull.
A great start for those in the hide when Matt Lonsdale picked up a pair of Bearded Tits feeding on the front of the island, after not being seen for several weeks it's good to know they are still around and they were still there when I arrived.

From the hide : 4 Mute Swans, c400 Brent (on arable between Gt. Holland & Frinton), c200 Greylag, 16 White-fronted Geese, 6 Canada Hybrids, c200 Teal, c50 Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, 12 Shelduck, c300 Lapwing, 18 Curlew, 3 Snipe, 1 Blkwit, 1 Water Rail, 1 Stonechat, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1+ Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine. Noted along the back hedge were Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Skylark. S&PC/IM/PL/ML/MR

A Purple Sandpiper and a Turnstone were around the sluice when I walked back.


Ian Minton

12:41 Great Spotted Woodpecker on telegraph pole by raised platform.
15:43 Barn Owl at back of scrape plus 16 White-fronted Geese still on marsh to right of hide.
15:50 Rock Pipit on sea wall to right of sluice.

Fri 3rd Jan 20

Max Martin

11:01 Soon as rain cleared single scan produced 9 R T Divers.
11:09 Absolute Mad 5 mins! 100+ RTD South, just a constant stream of divers (magical).

11:42 Marsh Harrier just come in/off the sea.

I joined Ian & Max in time to see the Marsh Harrier (NFY) coming in/off (not where I expected my first Harrier of the year) and a Gt Crested Grebe (NFY) was seen sitting on the sea, along with lots of Red T Diver & Cormorant movement.

On the walk to the hide the Coal Tit was on the very busy feeders, 2 Stonechat were on the mounds, 2 Purple Sandpipers on the seawall and a Turnstone on the sluice + 6 Brent headed south & c 100 Wigeon were sitting on the sea.

From the hide : 4 Mute Swans, c200 Greylag, 16 White-fronted Geese, 6 Canada (1+ 5 hybrids), c200 Teal, 100 Wigeon, 20 Shelduck, 19 Shoveler, c 300 Lapwing, 6 Snipe. 2 BlkWits, 2 Golden Plover (NFY), 1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Heron. IM/MM/MR.

Matt Lonsdale

16:11 16 Whitefronts still on gracing marsh to right of hide, 2 Blackwit, Barn Owl and 2 Purple Sands other highlights.

Thu 2nd Jan 20

Mat Lonsdale

09:28 12 Whitefronts still on arable, Shoveler, 3 Snipe on scrape + 6 Pied Wags. Corn and Reed Bunting in hedge near set aside. Canada Goose and Brent flock distantly.
10:03 Purple Sand and Rock Pipit from sluice earlier, Goldcrest by entrance to sewage farm.


From the hide : 4 Mute Swans, c500 Brent (on the scrape for a while), c200 Greylag, 6 Canada Goose (hybribs), 4 of 12 White-fronted Geese on arable (most hidden behind hedge), c150 Teal, 30 Wigeon, 13 Shoveler, 9 Shelduck, 4 Cormorant, 300+ Lapwing, 10 Curlew, 3 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. DW/CB/LH/PRD/MR.

A walk to the second pillbox added 2 Rock Pipits and a Turnstone.

Wed 1st Jan 20

A least 8 observers were on site today, with 4 of us walking down from the farm. Our total for the day was just 56 but I think that will increase a bit once other individual lists are received. End of day total now at 65.