Sun 31st Jan 21

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

10:36 Drake Eider close N.

11:40 4 Barnacle Geese N along coastline.

Pete Loud

13:57 All be it a bit cold, it was nice to get out for a while this morning, after such a miserable day yesterday, and quite productive too. A watch from the shelter saw a fine drake Eider heading north and then a reasonably close Black-throated Diver that flew north then turned back South and if that wasn’t enough a juvenile Shag flew south very close in. Still a few Red-throats offshore (20+) and plenty of Cormorants heading south in big groups, 500 in total. From the pill box there was a Blackwit on the Scrape and a couple of Snipe and 4 Barnacle Geese that flew over our heads and headed north.3 Purple Sands were on the seawall. 2 Pink-feet were still in with Grey-lags.(ML,PL).

At the end of January the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 93.

 

Sat 30th Jan 21

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

14:35 Dog walk along the seawall from Frinton to the sluice and back.  Lots of water with big sea and lots of standing water on the landward side (seawall ankle deep in water in places). Golf Club held lots of gulls including c50 Common and 12 LBBG plus 250 Starling. Offshore 6 Kittiwakes north and an adult Little Gull by the raised tee on my return.  Couldn’t see much more than a few Teal on the scrape, c150 Greylag, 27 Canada and 2 Pinkfeet on the marsh to the right and the Swans on the arable.   Not great for birds but the dogs enjoyed it.

 

Fri 29th Jan 21

No reports received so far:

 

Thurs 28th Jan 21

Reports from today:

Steve Piotrowski

10:21 Walk from Sewage Works to Frinton: amazing aerial display by Merlin chasing Meadow Pipit. Started at the boardwalk & lost to view over Frinton but still in pursuit. Over to you Paul. Maybe you’ll get the Merlin but an extra Meadow Pipit doubtful. Lots of Mipits this morning - 49 on grass sward back of sea wall. Plus 4 Stonechats, Rock Pipit, 6 Skylarks, Buzzard, 3 Cetti’s, 3 Curlew & 120 Wigeon on sea.

10:29 Also, 4 Purple Sands on rocks in line with wooden hide.

 

Wed 27th Jan 21

Reports from today:

Steve Piotrowski

16:36 On Scrape: 10 Shoveler, 51 Wigeon, 216 Teal. Meadow: 2 Mallards, 149 Greylag, 2 Pink-footed & 28 Canada Geese. Barn Owl hunting.

 

Tues 26th Jan 21

No reports received so far:

 

Mon 25th Jan 21

No reports received so far:

 

Sun 24th Jan 21

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

13:18 Haven this morning - 400+ R T Divers in intermittent glances, mainly south +100s on sea early doors before sea became more choppy alongside 12 G C Grebes. A Kittiwake S, 2 Sanderling on beach between shelter and radar tower. Black T Godwit on sluice, 5 Purp Sands on rock N of the bay. 2 Pinkfeet still with Greylags and c10 Curlew. Lt Egret on flood from approach road and nice group of c200 Brent geese.

15:36 13:50-15:20. R T Diver 168S, 92N. 9 G C Grebe S, 2 Kitts N.

 

Sat 23rd Jan 21

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

14:46 Out for a while this morning, but very cold, had to come home and warm up. Lots of Red-throats offshore, probably 200+,plenty of Cormorants also,100+, 3 Great C. Grebe and a distant group of 8 Scoter. 100 Grey-lag on the arable had the 2 Pink-foot in attendance, also 200 Lapwing and 50 Golden Plover. 6 Turnstone and an Oystercatcher were on the rocks and 7 Curlew were on the marsh. Big flock of Brent on the arable behind Frinton, at least 400. 4 Shoveler on the Scrape with plenty of Teal and Wigeon, too cold for accurate counts. Entrance marsh 2 Little Grebe and Little Egret plus pair of Sparrowhawk.

Paul Brayshaw

17:02 Late pm seawall walk from Frinton end alongside golf course. Not much to report!  R T Divers offshore plus 6 G C Grebe off the raised tee with two Sanderling on the beach to the north.

Matt Lonsdale

17:03 In addition to PL’s report. Another Little Grebe and Cettis over the road. Amazing to see the 100s of Divers offshore and total of 6 G C Grebe (5s, 1n). Goldcrest in bushes.

 

Fri 22nd Jan 21

No reports received so far:

 

Thurs 21st Jan 21

No reports received so far:

 

Wed 20th Jan 21

No reports received so far:

 

Tues 19th Jan 21

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

15:38 After an early finish, had a walk from sailing club to sea-watching hide. 80+ Wigeon were on the sea, 30 flew south offshore with 3 Pintail, presumably the same 3, drake & 2 females landed on the Scrape later to join the 2 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 200 Teal and 50 Wigeon. The 2 Pink-feet flew in and landed on the marsh to join 12 Curlew, but no other Geese could be found. An Oystercatcher was on the rocks and an adult Med Gull flew south offshore.

Mon 18th Jan 21

No reports received so far:

 

 

Sun 17th Jan 21

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

13:47 Nice to get out for a walk around site today, didn’t see any birders, but never seen so many people out walking the seawall in mid winter. Managed 2 birds I failed to see last year today, the 1st was a Woodcock, flushed inside the ringing compound and the 2nd a female Merlin offshore being harassed by a Herring Gull. It flew over the Golf Course, presumably up to the arable to eat the breakfast it was carrying in its talons. 2 Pink-foot were in with 30 White-fronts on the marsh behind the raised platform, a Peregrine was up on the arable, causing a lot of panic when it had a fly round. As per Paul a few Red throats were offshore on the way back, with 3 very close ones fishing. 3 Purples were on the sluice, 2 Curlew on the marsh , 100+ Teal on Scrape +3 Shoveler and a nice Green Sandpiper on an island on the flooded entrance marsh.

 

Sat 16th Jan 21

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

11:11 A very windy, wet and cold seawall walk from Frinton to the southern end of the golf course.  Distant grey geese on the marsh included 20+ wf and 1+ pf so the usuals are probably all still present.  Otherwise a very flooded golf course...  two Sanderling on beach north of raised tee whilst offshore movement north 2 Kittiwakes, 1 Gannet, 2 Common Scoter and an seasonal Fulmar over the beach. Drying off now!

Matt Lonsdale

11:16 Just got in as well Paul, interesting re the geese. 2 Pinkfeet and 2 Whitefronts  with 2 Greylag in back corner of scrape so poss. different. 29 Canada Geese also of note on marsh to right of hide. As Paul said not just wet but freezing 🥶.

 

Fri 15th Jan 21

In line with covid guidelines the hide is now locked until further notice.

Reports from today:

Matt Turner

15:04 Walk from esplanade to Frinton and back. Highlights: circa 30 RTD, flock of c.100 Wigeon on sea, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzard, 5 Purple Sand, 2 Pink Footed Geese, 24 White Fronts in off and an adult Kittiwake sat on sea wall.

 

Thurs 14th Jan 21

No reports received so far:

 

Wed 13th Jan 21

Reports from today:

Steve Piotrowski

18:31 Nothing special today but did have Barn Owl at back of Scrape. Also 8 Shoveler, 52 Wigeon & 30 Teal. 28 White-fronts in meadow towards GC. Many more thrushes today. 29 Canada’s & 28 Greylags Holland Brook nr Fan Bridge.

Pete Davis

19:39 26 White Fronts and 2 Pinks on grazing marsh late morning and 7 Purps along seawall.

 

Tues 12th Jan 21

No reports received so far:

 

 

Mon 11th Jan 21

Reports from today:

John Hall

11:50 Late morning exercise walk Bins only. I think the birds are more in Lockdown than us. Bushes quiet, likewise The Mounds. Sluice rocks covered and no sign of Purples on Groyne or sea wall. 2 Cormorant sentinels sitting  on triangles marking rocks. Small raft of Wigeon off shore. Scattered group of Grey geese on grazing marsh. Scrape 1 Shelduck and two Shovelers.

 

Sun 10th Jan 21

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

10:42 Frinton - seawall - gc (footpath)-farm- Frinton loop. Offshore 220 Wigeon, 2 Cormorant and a Brent   Golf course v quiet, nothing along the part frozen ditches   Nice flock of c80 Skylark and at least 8 Corn Bunting in fields between paddocks and 1st. Ave Frinton. Then (just as leaving haven area), 5  White-fronts flown into fiends behind golf course workshops with Brent.

Matt Lonsdale

10:52  2 Pochard just gone south, c26 Whitefronts and 2 Pinkfeet with Greylags.

10:56 Also Pochard, Tufted Duck and 2 Shoveler with Wigeons offshore N of sluice bay.

Pete Loud

13:52 Quick visit late morning, Pochard, Tufted and all the Geese still present from Matt’s earlier report, in addition a Redshank & Little Egret on entrance road marsh.

 

Sat 9th Jan 21

A bright and sunny start to the day has tempted a couple of birders out this morning.

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

10:07 Seawall walk alongside the golf course. Overhead 23 Fieldfare (in small groups) and a Siskin south.  Offshore 220 Wigeon, 6 Brent and 2 Red T Divers plus single Sanderling on beach north of raised tee.  Stonechat and 2 Fieldfare on golf course plus Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and kestrel   Swans distantly on the arable plus 4 hares getting frisky, and groups of Teal flying into the scrape area.

Matt Lonsdale

10:52 26 Whitefronts and 2 Pinkfeet with Greylags to right of hide, Snipe on golf course.

John Hall

16:45 Very pleasant sunny afternoon stroll from sewage works to pill box and back. Hedges much livelier than of late. With Sparrows, Blackbirds, and Robins calling. At least 4 Purple Sands on sluice rocks. Raft of around 80 Wigeon near outfall buoy, further north off the rocky breakwater C 150 Brent and on the grazing marsh next to GC a scattered flock of Grey Geese (presumably Matt’s flock from this morning) a few Brent interspersed among them. On return to car bird of the day for me Grey Plover on beach next to sluice breakwater.

 

Fri 8th Jan 21

No reports received so far:

 

Thurs 7th Jan 21

No reports received so far:

 

Wed 6th Jan 21

Reports from today:

Pete Davis

12:49 Woodcock flushed from seawall near 🐸 painting and flew towards wooden hide 12:46

John Hall

15:45 Brief visit to Haven: 1 Little Egret on flooded field next to approach road. Sluice rocks and groin empty. From Pill Box 80+ Teal, 20 Greylag, 8 Canada/Hy-brids, 6 Mute Swans, 150  Brent over heading towards backwaters, 1 Common Buzzard in tree by Farmhouse. 15.45 going home.

Tues 5th Jan 21

As Covid-19 moves ever closer I will not be moving far from home in the near future. Thankfully I live just a short walk from Hamford Water Nature Reserve so I will still be able to fit some birding in with walks from home. 

I will however try to keep the Blog up to date with any reports received and add any additions to the Haven Year List. Take Care - Stay Safe.

No reports received so far:

   

 Mon 4th Jan 21

No trouble with social distancing today, no cars in the carpark and not a soul around, just after the rain at lunch time. I managed to see 2 Whitefronts with the Greylags from the lay-by and Matt Turner had the 2 Pinkfoot's from the main site, he also added Sanderling to the site year list.

Reports from today:

Matt Turner

11:58 Sanderling on beach.

12:25 2 Pink-foot still with Greylag flock. 150 Teal, 100 Wigeon & 5 Shoveler on scrape.

Photo Matt Turner©

Photo Matt Turner©

Sun 3rd Jan 21

I managed to get over to the Haven for an hour or so this afternoon and added the 2 Pinkfeet & the 2 Whitefronts to my year list, but birds of the day were a group of 5 Eider Ducks picked up by Max Martin heading south (3 drakes & 2 Ducks) just as I was packing up my scope, thanks Max.

 Also added to the Site Year List today were Rock Pipit (MM/MR), Oystercatcher & Peregrine (ML).

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

10:59 2 Pinkfeet and 2 Whitefronts still with Greylags. C25 Red T Diver S offshore, Oystercatcher on sluice, Peregrine in tree towards farm.

 

Sat 2nd Jan 21

A big effort from the few who added to the 1st. Jan day list meant we bettered last year's total by one with 66 species. Another 4 added today by Paul with Fieldfare & Barn Owl & Pete Loud with Shoveler & Lt. Egret

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

16:17 Frinton - farm - golf course - seawall dog and child walk produced 2 Fieldfare and a Corn Bunting between farm and tennis club (plus 3 Redwing). 8 Curlews off marsh and Barn Owl distantly.

Pete Loud

18:10 Good walk around site today, but things much the same as of late. A  Little Egret was on the entrance marsh with it or another on the Scrape. The 2 Pink-feet were still in with the Grey lags on marsh behind the raised platform. The 2 adult White fronts were on the marsh north of the hide, flushed by a helicopter and disappeared over Frinton. 7 Purples on the rocks by French point, Great crested Grebe on the sea, 4 Shoveler on the thawed out scrape, but most of the Wigeon still preferring to sit on the sea.

 

Fri 1st Jan 21

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

08:51 Can only find 2 Whitefronts this morning.... both to right hand side of hide. Nothing else so far.

16:04 2 Pinkfeet with Greylags on arable from chippings lay-by.

16:51 64 species so far inc 2 Whitefronts and 2 Pinkfeet. Unfortunately seemingly anti social behavior in hide from yobs overnight have scare the large wild geese flock. Also Grey Wag (chippings lay-by), 5 Red-L Partridge (arable), c400 Linnet accross site, Gt. C Grebe (on sea) , 3 Pintail (N with Wigeon), 7 Purple Sand, Med Gull (over sewage works), LBB Gull on sluice. Chinese water deer also on marsh.

Simon Cox

13:43 3 Gadwall on sea with Wigeon.