Thurs 31st Dec 20
Wishing you all a very "Happy New Year" Stay Safe & Good Birding for 2021.
Reports from today:
Matt Lonsdale
12:02 2 Tundra Beans, Pinkfoot and c50 Whitefronts on 2nd pool from raised platform. + LBB Gull and Blackwit.
C100 Golden Plover flew over the road and Lt Grebe still in Brook.
At the end of December the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 188. (Just two less than last year, not bad after such a mad year).
Tues 29th Dec 20
Reports from today:
Matt Lonsdale
13:47 Haven this morning- ad Caspian Gull briefly on scrape. 57+ Whitefronts, 2 Tundra Beans and a Pinkfoot still. 7 Purple Sands on seawall next to sluice and good numbers of Redwing, Song Thrush and Blackbirds. Still can’t find a Coot...
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| Photo Matt Lonsdale© |
Pete Newson
14:31 Ad Caspian Gull still on beach with small gulls by radar tower.
Mon 28th Dec 20
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
09:35 Grey geese flock on arable behind scrape best viewed from lay-by. As yesterday a bit distant for bins but White-fronted Geese and at least two Bean
Matt Turner
12:37 46 White-fronted, 2 Tundra Bean, 1 Pinkie, 7 Purple Sands & a Sanderling.
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| Photo Matt Turner© |
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| Photo Matt Turner© |
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| Photo Matt Turner© |
Sun 27th Dec 20
I hope everyone has had a good Christmas, far too much eating and drinking for me so I must try to get out for some exercise in the week. Thanks to Paul and Matt for keeping us all up to date.
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
13:53 Walk along the seawall to wooden hide with lots of other people! A few R T Divers offshore, some wfg in a grey goose flock of 80+ distantly on the marsh but no count as bins only and partly obscured...
Matt Lonsdale
14:49 2 Beans, Pinkfoot and 71 Whitefronts on marsh to right of hide (cheers for heads up Paul😀). At least 1 Pale-b Brent with c800 Dark-b Brent at farm earlier.
16:20 Day spent doing some jan 1st prep. B1032 lay-bys. 4 Red-L Partridge and Snipe but couldn’t find a Coot on floods. Farm- Goldcrest in churchyard, good numbers of Linnet (50+), Skylarks, Greenfinch and Chaffinch and the Brents. From the pillbox- Whitefronts, Beans and Pinkfoot. Fieldfare and 75 Linnets on back hedge, 2 Barn Owls at dusk. 2 Purp Sands + 2 Turnstone on sluice, Rock Pipit (french point).
Tues 22nd Dec 20
Just popped to the Haven for an hour this morning, a 30min seawatch gave 6 Brent, 5 R T Divers, 5 Gt. C Grebe heading south and c300 Wigeon, 300+ Brent, 15 R T Divers, 3 Gt. C Grebe sitting on the sea. The Brent were close in to the beach Frinton side of French Point before heading back onto the arable behind the golf course.
Also noted at the sluice were 2 Purple Sands, 4 Turnstone and in with the large mixed gull flock was Herring Gull "Y2VT" (info will follow on the Colour Ring Obs page shortly).
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
09:12 Frinton to Holland and back seawall run. Two Stonechat near gc dump, 4 Purples on sluice, 2 Siskin south, Guillemot v close inshore, 400+ Brent building up offshore gc and plenty of Red Throats offshore.
Max Martin
09:23 Med Gull on Sluice, Gt Crested Grebe on sea and White fronts distantly from top of hill above the orchard, definitely something in with them though most likely the pink foot.
Sun 20th Dec 20
A short visit this morning was spent going through the geese on the marsh below the raised platform, not an easy task, but after several moves the Pink-footed Goose found by Max Martin was still in with the White-fronted Geese, Greylags and hybrids, unfortunately a Bean Goose seen to drop in earlier by Max couldn't be relocated. MM/PL/PRD/MR
Photo Max Martin©
Around the Sluice were 1 Purple Sand, 1 Turnstone, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Cormorant & 2 Stonechats were on the Mounds
The Green Sandpiper was still on the Scrape with most of the birds from yesterday PL/MM.
Sat 19th Dec 20
Quite amazing that we saw any birds at all this morning, two metal detectorists were digging up the field between the lay-by and the hide, the 5 Purple Sands were flushed by a dog and flew off towards Frinton, another out of control dog was running around the marsh on the nature reserve and a shoot was taking place between the golf course and Gt. Holland.
Thankfully the goose flock was on the marsh to the right of the hide and the Whitefronts Matt had seen a bit earlier joined them, a total of 73 Whitefronts, 1 Tundra Bean Goose, 1 Canada Goose were with the large group of Greylag and all the hybrids.
The Green Sandpiper was still on the scrape as were a similar number of ducks to yesterday ML/MR
Reports from today:
Matt Lonsdale
09:58 Tundra Bean with 32 Whitefronts distantly from chippings lay-by. Better views from next lay-by towards Gt Holland. Flock have headed over and seem to be landing in marsh to right of hide.
Fri 18th Dec 20
A stop at the lay-by on the way across the marshes gave a good mixture of geese with 26 Whitefronts in with c170 Brent Geese and the large flock of Greylags. The Greylags soon moved to the marsh below the raised platform and were followed a few minutes later by the 26 Whitefronts. A quick move to view the marsh from the pillbox showed a second flock of 33 Whitefronts on the marsh to the right of the hide. MR
6 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Turnstone were along the front and another group of Brent were sitting on the sea offshore
From the hide: 6 Mute Swans, c100 Teal, 78 Wigeon, 12 Shelduck, 9 Shoveler, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Peregrine (up on the arable), 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel.
The Brent from offshore dropped into the scrape mid morning and a further group from behind the golf course dropped into the arable in front of the hide, c400 in total. JH/DC/MR.
Thurs 17th Dec 20
Not much change today, c350 Brent Geese were on the arable between the lay-by and the hide and the Whitefronts were with the Greylags on the marsh below the raised platform, very difficult to get a good count but I guess around 30 Whitefronts.
Much calmer seas meant that today's 6 Purple Sandpipers were having an easier time than yesterday along the front.
From the hide:
6 Mute Swans, c120 Teal, 22 Wigeon, 12 Shelduck, 7 Shoveler, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Water Rail (heard only), 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Song Thrush.
Weds 16th Dec 20
Not so many people along the seawall this morning, this was an hour before high water.
Even with these seas 7 Purple Sandpipers were along the front trying to dodge the waves.
From the Hide: 6 Mute Swans, 148 Brent Geese, c90 Teal, 48 Wigeon, 8 Shelduck, 6 Shoveler, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail (Heard Only).
The Whitefronts were again with the Greylags and Canada Geese on the marsh below the Raised Platform all in similar numbers to the last few days. JH/MR.
Tues 15th Dec 20
A nice bit of sunshine and a few different birds made for a good morning, also good to see PRD out & about, on site for a bit of exercise and a couple of ticks for his Haven year list.
I couldn't locate any of the geese from the lay-bys on the way in this morning so headed for the hide, five Purple Sands were again around the sluice area.
From the hide:
7 Mute Swans (on the arable), 167 Greylag,(+ 1 hybrid), 28 Brent (on arable), 1 Canada Goose (+6 hybrids), c100 Teal, 92 Wigeon, 8 Shelduck, 30 Golden Plover (on the arable toward Gt. Holland), 1 Green Sandpiper (also on scrape yesterday PNt.), 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Lt. Owl (back hedge).
The Whitefronts finally gave themselves up when a lot of heads appeared behind the reedbed to the right of the hide, no count was made but most likely the group from the last few days PRD/JH/MR
Sun 13th Dec 20
Not on site today but good to see the Whitefronts are still around.
Reports from today:
Simon Cox
11:05 55 Whitefronts Chippings lay-by.
15:11 There were 7 Purple Sandpipers by the sluice earlier & 140 Wigeon on the sea. PL saw a Gt Crested Grebe
John Hall
15:09 A rare Sunday visit to The Haven proved to be more socially enjoyable than bird productive. High tide meant no Purple Sandpipers or Turnstones on the Sluice. In the Hide Slmon & Pat Cox were doing WeBS count and shortly after we were joined by PL. From the Hide C 50 Teal, 4 Shelduck, 1 Greylag, 6 Mute Swans on the arable and 1 on scrape which joined the 6. About 100 Brent flew over heading for the sea and shortly after around 50 (presumably of the 100) returned. 2 Stonechats were spotted over the grazing marsh and a Buzzard flew along the Back hedge. A distant flock of unidentified geese were observed by PL, which could well have been a flock of White fronts seen earlier by S & P from the Chippings lay-by. Also seen a large distant flock of Corvids. S & P Cox/PL/JH.
Sat 12th Dec 20
Things were much the same today with 53 White-fronted Geese on the arable north of the chippings lay-by on the way in, thanks Matt. ML/MR
3 Cormorants were fishing offshore between the sluice and French Point and a Gt. C Grebe was sitting on the sea drifting north on the tide, around the sluice were 4 Purple Sandpipers and a Turnstone.
From the hide: 6 Mute Swans, 1 Greylag, 62 Brent Geese (in for a wash then out), c80 Teal, 10+ Wigeon, 10 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler (a pair), 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. MR
On leaving the hide c200 Brent flew along the marsh, a report from visitors said they had come from the field behind the golf course and the Greylag flock were in the same area.
Fri 11th Dec 20
Not a bad morning after the rain cleared away but no sign of the Shag from yesterday, 3 Purple Sands, 2 Turnstone, 3 Cormorants and the mixed gull flock were around the sluice and a Stonechat in the sluice bushes.
From the hide: 6 Mute Swans, c200 Brent (on the arable until the farmer turned up with his fireworks), 165 Greylag, 3 White-fronted Geese, 1 Canada Goose + 6 hybrids, 1 Egyptian Goose, 134 Teal, 36+ Wigeon, 5 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 1 Grey Heron, c30 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 1 Turnstone, 1 Water Rail (heard only), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. DC/MR
A short seawatch added 2 Gannet (n), 8 Red T Diver (2n 6s), 1 G N Diver (s), 1 Cormorant (s) and a 100+ Wigeon (sitting on the Sea), DC/MR
Reports from today:
Simon Cox
12:20 45+ Whitefronts Holland Marshes Lt Clacton end.
14:30 Revised count 59 Whitefronts & 1 Greylag Holland Marshes.
Thurs 10th Dec 20
The morning started with a message from Steve Piotrowski saying there was a Shag (NFY) sitting on the sea off the sluice but as I was nowhere near ready to get over to the site I didn't hold out much hope. Arriving on site some 45 minutes later there was no sign just 3 Cormorants, 3 Turnstone 2 Purple Sands & a lot of gulls. After spending an hour in the hide I decided to call it a day and to my amazement when I checked the gulls on the rocks there was the Shag having a preen. And as a bonus it was colour ringed. PRD/DW/MR
From the hide: 6 Mute Swans (on arable), 160 Wigeon (sitting on the sea then on scrape), 76 Teal, 4 Shelduck, 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrel. SP/DW/MR
A Brent flock of 110 birds moved from the field behind the golf course to the arable in front of the hide and c53 Greylag were around the marsh.
Wed 9th Dec 20
I started this morning checking the arable in front of the hide from the lay-by on the B1032 and had 7 Mute Swans, 162 Greylags, 110 Lapwings, 5 Red-legged Partridge & lots of Starlings. Moving on to the Chippings lay-by, on the marsh west of the road were 101 White-fronted Geese, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, lots of Corvids and Gulls.
On the main site still loads of Blackbirds along the approach road with a few Redwing and with not so many people around in the colder weather a singing Song Thrush in the Badger Sett was a real pleasure. On the beach beside the sluice were 5 Turnstone and 3 Purple Sands + 3 Cormorants were with the mixed gull flock on the sluice rocks. MR
From the hide: 1 Greylag, c75 Teal, 6 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 1 Wigeon, 1 Lt. Egret, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting. JH/MR.
Reports from today:
John Hall
11:11 Flight of 16 Canada Geese over scrape south.
Mon 7th Dec 20
Didn't see much this morning, lots of frost and fog, but it did show that the spiders had been hard at work. A walk along the approach road and down to the sluice showed there were still lots of Blackbirds about but not much else, we could hear the Greylags somewhere out on the marsh and a single Stonechat on the mounds. At the sluice were 6 Purple Sands, 3+ Turnstone, 3 Cormorants were with the gull flock and a Mallard was looking lost swimming around the end of the rocks. Time for an early lunch I think. DC/MR
Sun 6th Dec 20
Great start to the day today, while in the carpark checking through the Greylag flock in the approach road sheep field and having found two Whitefronts amongst them I was aware of the sound of geese from behind me, I turned to see a flock of 100+ Whitefronts coming in off the sea, flying directly over head and all calling they dropped onto the marsh with the Greylags. Not quite North Norfolk but about as good as it gets at the Haven. Almost immediately I was joined by Matt Turner who had been at the top of the carpark and Pete Loud who had just arrived on site.
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| Photo Matt Turner© |
After spending some time with the geese we moved on, Pete walking the bottom hedge and noting lots of Blackbirds and several Song Thrush & Redwings, at the sluice we had 4 Purple Sands, 2 Turnstone and 30+ Wigeon sitting on the sea offshore.
From the hide: 7 Mute Swans (on the arable), 144 Teal, 20 Wigeon, 7 Shelduck, 2 Stonechat, 1 Lt. Owl (along back hedge), 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Lt. Egret.
While at the hide the geese were flushed from the marsh by the shepherd coming to check the sheep with 117 Greylag, 1 Canada goose (+7 hybrids) landing on the scrape. The Whitefronts flew out over Gt. Holland and were lost to view, some considerable time later they returned and after several aborted attempts they finally landed on the marsh to the right of the hide many behind the reeds. Fortunately Matt had taken a photo of the birds in flight and was able to count 111 in this flock. PL/MT/MR
Photo Matt Turner©
Reports from today:
Richard Jeffree
14:02 7 Purple Sands still near sluice early afternoon +White fronts still present.
Matt Lonsdale
15:53 110 Whitefronts (26 1cy) still present and flew across road and landed c3:30pm. 1 Purple Sand and a couple of Goldcrest best of rest for me.
Sat 5th Dec 20
After heavy rain and hail first thing it turned out to be a nice morning, Max and I arrived at the sluice area at the same time to find 5 Turnstone, 4 Purple Sands and 2 Sanderling along the seawall and beach.
From the hide: 174 Teal, c60 Wigeon, 7 Shelduck, 4 Mallard, 3 Curlew, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel.
6 Mute swans were up on the arable and the Greylags were on the marsh north of the approach road with 1 Lt. Egret. ML/MM/MR.
Fri 4th Dec 20
No sign of any geese this morning apart from the Greylags on the arable from the lay-by, with c300 Lapwings and lots of Starlings. A big increase in the number of ducks on the scape was good to see.
From the hide: 5 Mute Swans, 400+ Teal, c150 Wigeon, 9 Shelduck, 1 Peregrine (on the arable), 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 S E Owl, and a few Lapwing & Gulls.
Around the Sluice were 3 Purple Sands & 2 Stonechat were on the mounds. DC/MR
Wed 2nd Dec 20
Lots of White-fronted Geese around again this morning. For me viewing from the chippings lay-by on the B1032 around 09:30 a group of 41 were on the marsh to the west of the road and a second group of 67 Whitefronts and 12 Bean Geese were on the arable to the east between the road and the hide. The 12 Bean Geese flew out high over Gorse Lane Ind. Est. at 10:00
Moving on to the main site I met up with Max & Mick at the pillbox who had a single Bean Goose with the Greylags and some of the Whitefronts on the scrape.
From the hide: 6 Mute Swans, 170 Greylags, c60 Teal, 26 Wigeon, 12 Shelduck, c60 Lapwing, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrels + a large group of Brent were again on the field behind the golf course.
3 Purple Sands were on the sluice + a stop at the lay-by on the way home gave 63 Whitefronts and a single Bean Goose back on the arable.
Reports from today:
Max Martin
07:47 2 Whitefronts on southern end of golf course.
07:50 5 Bean Geese just come in off the sea with one Brent, currently going over the marsh towards raised platform. Just dropped in with all the other geese on the arable.
09:38 5 Egyptian Geese South appear to have dropped in, but lost to view.
10:13 White fronts on scrape with at least 1 Tundra Bean. Looked as if there could have been two when in flight.
Matt Lonsdale
08:20 On arable- 13 Bean Geese (8+ 5 that dropped in this morning. 62 Whitefronts (14 juvs) but seem to be more than 62 now but no time to count again work beckons, and no sign of other group ‘over the road in extremely brief check.
Tues 1st Dec 20
Once again this morning it was record numbers of White-fronts that were birds of the day along with 7 Tundra Bean Geese. Matt Lonsdale's counts before work were echoed by Simon and myself between 09:00 & 09:30. My counts for the arable on both sides of the B1032 were 119 White-fronts, 7 Bean Geese and 3 Brent with a large group of Greylags, sadly before I could get to the raised platform to check the marsh on the other side of the hedge the farmer turned up with his fireworks and everything was flushed. Later in the morning the Greylags were on the scrape and the marsh below the raised platform, c500 Brent on the field behind the golf course and a large group of White-fronts were up on the arable near the dung heap along side the bridleway between the farm and the golf club workshops.
From the hide: 6 Mute Swans, c170 Greylag, c150 Teal, 20 Wigeon, 15 Shelduck, 66 Lapwing, 14 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel.
Still lots of Blackbirds + Song Thrush & Redwing around the bushes.
Reports from today:
Matt Lonsdale
07:25 6 Tundra Beans and 65 Whitefronts from lay-by on arable. Please stay in vehicle if coming to view to avoid disturbance.
07:52 An additional 55 euro Whitefronts ‘over the road’ from bridge. Making 110 and breaking the haven record!
08:04 67 Whitefronts on arable and another Tundra Bean just dropped in making score on the doors 122 Whitefronts and 7 tundra beans (my maths earlier was poor😂).
Simon Cox
10:00 Both flocks of geese flushed but some have landed on marshes further back from chippings lay-by. Lapwing count 360.
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| Photo's Matt Lonsdale© |
