Sat 27th Feb 21
A great start for Pete this morning with three very early Sand Martins to add to the year list.
Reports from today:
Pete Loud
10:16 Spring is definitely in the air, 3 Sand Martins feeding over the brook on the Holland side of the road.
14:16 Joy to be out enjoying the Spring sunshine today, plenty of people and wildlife doing the same thing. A Peacock Butterfly was flying by the seawall below French point and a Weasel was scurrying along the track. My first Adder, a fine Male was sunning on the mounds. First thing at the farm a Marsh Harrier flew over and Corn Bunting was in the paddocks. The Pumpkin field has been ploughed but still plenty of Chaffinch & Linnet on the disturbed ground. Scrape from the Pillbox 19 Avocet, 1 Redshank, 1 Blackwit, 2 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, 50 Lapwing, 8 Gadwall, 20+ Shoveler and plenty of Wigeon & Teal. 30 Curlew on marsh and Peregrine up on arable. Reeds along Golf Course now holding lots of Reed Bunting also 1 Cetti’s heard and a female Stonechat. Another Marsh Harrier heading north offshore.
Simon Cox
Gt. Sp. Woodpecker ‘over the road’ appears to be NFY
Fri 26th Feb 21
A Marsh Harrier was a Haven site year tick this morning and got all the birds on the scrape airborne for a while, good to see another increase in the Avocet numbers with 16 today, otherwise much the same, lots of Wigeon, Teal & Shoveler, a few Shelduck and Gadwall, 2 Canada Geese and a Greylag, Ruff, Redshank & Blk. T Godwit, Oystercatchers & Lapwings. 36 Curlew were on the marsh and 1 Buzzard & 2 Kestrel were on the wing.
The first Adder of the year was seen today (see Haven Wildlife page).
Reports from today:
Pete Davis
10:30 White Wag on flood right of scrape. 16 Avocet scrape
Matt Lonsdale
18:37 Work cancelled so Haven twice today, spring in the air-
This morning- 3 Marsh Harriers (1 gained height and headed out to sea), 2 over raised platform then scrape. Siskin S (unfortunately outside boundary), Blackwit and Redshank and 16 Avocet on scrape, 32 Curlew (marsh right of hide), R T Diver (offshore), Goldcrest (bushes), 5 Oyks, 2 Turnstone. Sparrowhawk, few Buzzards up on thermals and seemingly increase in Jackdaws🤔.
Med Gull added this afternoon and PD had a White Wag from raised platform.
Thurs 25th Feb 21
Reports from today:
Steve Piotrowski
09:17 10 Avocets in pool in front of raised platform.
10:19 10 Avocets now on Scrape plus Ruff, 2 Oyks & 38 Brents. 24 Curlew on floodwaters east of hide.
16:44 Counts from Scrape area of other species not previously mentioned earlier today: 167 Wigeon, 36 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 19 Mallard, 13 Shelduck & Snipe. Also single Purple Sand on rocks south of outfall.
Matt Lonsdale
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| Photo Matt Lonsdale© |
18:22 2 hours this afternoon/evening. Absolutely beautiful and still. On/ around scrape- 10 Avocet, Blackwit, 37 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 11 Snipe, Barn Owl but the Ruff eluded me again. Stomped up to Frinton beach huts in search of a Black Red (failed) but - 4 Stonechat, 3 Oyk and c500 Brent behind GC. An Unfortunate end for both a Guillemot and Gannet washed up on tideline.
Wed 24th Feb 21
Reports from today:
Steve Piotrowski
13:54 At least 3 Med Gulls in small gull flocks in fields behind Golf Course. Also 252 Brents.
16:33 Scrape: Ruff, Redshank, 2 Oyks, 2 Snipe, 137 Lapwing, Curlew, 167 Teal, 70 Wigeon, 18 Shoveler, 18 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 8 Shelduck & one lone Brent.
Matt Lonsdale
19:07 Quick visit late pm- Peregrine, 4 Golden Plover and Grey Wag from chippings lay-by. Blackwit and Redshank on scrape + Barn Owl. Barn Owl seen all of last 3 evenings, a Grey Wag on Monday and pair of Gadwall on pond to right of hide yesterday.
Max Martin
19:16 10+ Med Gull feeding on fields behind Golf Course late afternoon, including a white ringed individual which can be seen flying away in the image. Unfortunately I couldn't read the ring as it was always distant.
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| Photo Max Martin© |
Mon 22nd Feb 21
I had a walk at the Haven this morning, and very nice it was too, managed to pick up a Haven year tick or two at the same time.
A Song Thrush was singing from the badger sett on the way in and all was very Spring like.
From the pillbox: Lots of ducks on the scrape incl. Wigeon, Teal, and Shoveler in large numbers plus a few Shelducks & a pair of Gadwall. 27 Greylag & 2 Pink-footed Geese dropped in as I arrived as did a single Snipe to join 1 Blk. T Godwit & 4 Canada Geese, a further 4 Canada Geese were on the marsh to the right of the hide. Also noted around the marsh were 50+ Brent Geese (over), 6 Mute Swans, 6 Curlew, 2 Stonechat, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Oystercatchers, several Lapwing and 2 Red T Divers headed south. PRD/MR.
Sun 21st Feb 21
The Site Year List hit 100 today with Paul's Bearded Tit at midday, what a good bird to hit that milestone.
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
12:01 At least two Bearded Tit at the northern end of site, reedbed below southernmost beach huts.
12:52 Other bits from a seawall wall from Frinton to the end of the golf course and back. 200+ Brent on arable (partly obscured), brief burst of a Cetti's near the golf course dump so at least one survived the cold snap. Overhead two single Chaffinch and Skylark (latter a passage bird but lovely to hear others singing as per ML yesterday) and a total of 12 Curlew north in small groups.
Pete Loud
16:37 Quite spring like in the winter sunshine late morning. The 2 Peregrine were again up on the arable and when they disturbed everything off the scrape I was able to count 40 Shoveler in with plenty of Wigeon and Teal, also 3 Avocets, 6 Curlew and the Blackwit. 3 Stonechat were in the vicinity of the moth enclosure and an adult Med Gull headed along the beach. 2 Oystercatchers and a Purple Sand were on the rocks off the sluice.
Matt Lonsdale
17:43 Great walk late afternoon if brief-
3 Avocet on scrape, loads of Shoveler!, 5 Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover (flew N) and Blackwit on scrape and surrounding flood. 3 Stonechat around pillbox, a Peregrine put the 200+ Brent up off the arable, c100 Cormorant and group of Curlew N. Barn Owl quartering around hide, good to see 👍
Sat 20th Feb 21
Reports from today:
Pete Loud
14:12 Circuit up to the farm and back along seawall this morning. A pair of Peregrine were up on the arable feeding on a kill. 3 adult Med Gulls were on the Golf course, 2 in fine breeding plumage. 400-450 Brent feeding on arable and making trips to the Scrape to wash and brush up. Plenty of birds on the Scrape now, 22 Shoveler, lots of Wigeon and Teal & 1 Blackwit. 2 Purples on the sluice rocks and the Grey Plover again (briefly (ML).
Matt Lonsdale
14:33 In addition - farm area - 2 Corn Bunting, 2 Song Thrush, c50 Chaffinch, few Reed Buntings and a Cetti’s alongside lots of singing Skylarks. Still only 7 Greylags but 363 Wigeon (across raised platform + scrape). Brief Stonechat (first since cold snap) and a Goldcrest. Not long till the first proper spring migrants arrive.
Thurs 18th Feb 21
Reports from today:
Matt Lonsdale
19:39 Haven late afternoon- still lots of large Gulls around, a group of c500 Brent over Frinton and c200 later N along coastline. Back to 7 Mute Swans on arable, Little Grebe (approach road ditch), Blackwit (raised platform) and Goldcrest noted. Only 4 Greylags still and the hybrid (Canada/Greylag family) . Still great numbers of wildfowl on floods and c500 Lapwing from chippings lay-by.
Tues 16th Feb 21
Reports from today:
Steve Piotrowski
17:53 A bit late by the time I got to the scrape. 3 Dabchicks in floodwaters from approach road, 12 Shoveler, 27 Teal & 2 Shelducks scrape area. Barn Owl hunting upstream from Holland Bridge, also 3 Snipe & singing Cetti’s Warbler. 27 Golden Plover with 250 Lapwings at farm. Overall high numbers of wildfowl from Holland Bridge to Fan Bridge & beyond.
20:37 Today’s Wildfowl totals for Holland/Kirby Brook: 43 Pintail, 251 Wigeon, 442 Teal, 11 Gadwall, 19 Shoveler & 13 Shelduck.
Matt Lonsdale
18:46 Bike up to the farm for last of the light this evening - great reward.
Magic 5 mins 17:45-50 at junction of path and golf course. At least 1 Pair of little owl calling constantly and showing well (it or another in ‘redstart Hedge area also), as a Woodcock flew around overhead and then 3 silhouetted Pintail flew in with group of ducks towards scrape.
Sun 14th Feb 21
Reports from today:
Pete Loud
13:47 Still bitterly cold in the fresh SE wind this morning. Walked to Frinton and back along the seawall. A Grey Plover was feeding on the tideline with 8 Turnstone near French Point and 5 Pintail flew south close in including 2 fine Drakes. 200 Wigeon were on the sea. 120 Golden Plover were on the Golf Course with 50 Lapwing and 2 Curlew. Couple of Snipe flyovers, 3 Redwing over the car park and Blackwit behind the raised platform.
Matt Lonsdale
14:55 Farm loop early afternoon-
9 Moorhen on the farm pond. Difficult to count but 250+ Golden Plover scattered across field and Golf course. Fieldfare, 2 Redwing c150 Linnet, few Reed Buntings and Chaffinch. Group of c1k Wood Pigeon off fields also.
From bridge over B1032 4 LBB Gull, lots of Common and Blk H Gulls.
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| Photo Matt Lonsdale© |
Sat 13th Feb 21
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
10:48 Frinton - seawall - golf course footpath- farm loop dog walk/ ice skate. Increasing open water in the ditches with 10 Snipe and a Woodcock seen in brief flights along the borrowdykes - no doubt many more present. Fieldfare, 2 Blackbird and 4 Starling feeding on the wind blasted golf course, at least 250 Linnets on fields behind marsh back hedge, pumpkin patch still holding good numbers of finches but all keep very low - at least 15 Chaffinch and 50 Linnet, with Song Thrush by pond, fields by paddocks 85 Skylark, 4 Redwing and 2 Lapwing.
Matt Lonsdale
12:04 Few hours this morning-
3+ Woodcock and 14+ Snipe the highlights. Little Grebe (over the road) and 14 Curlew only other birds of note. Loads of common gulls again, with 100s of others resting on ice with 2 LBB gulls and few GBB's.
Pete Loud
14:05 Bitterly cold out this morning in the fresh east wind, not too bad in the sheltered spots. Everwhere frozen underfoot, nothing on the Scrape, frozen solid. 4 Woodcock,1 under car park bushes with the rest out of ditches at back of Golf Course, 4 Snipe, 1 Golden Plover on Golf Course, 7 Curlew over. 1 Purple Sand flew past sluice. 1 Redwing in car park, quite a few Blackbirds about and a couple of Song Thrush. Drake Gadwall with a few Mallard on the unfrozen settling ponds in the sewage farm.
Wed 10th Feb 21
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
17:46 Sunset to dusk walk Frinton - seawall - gc footpath - gc back hedge - gc bridlepath - seawall. Bit late for most birds but 3 Woodcock and Little Owl back hedge and 43 Lapwing south. 3 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover on beach on the way out. Most ditches now frozen but the main ones free from ice.
Tues 9th Feb 21
Reports from today:
Pete Loud
17:42 Late afternoon walk from car park to seawatch hide and back (4-5pm). A Ruff in with 250 Lapwing and 2 Blackwits behind the raised platform was a nice surprise also 15 Snipe in the same area. 60 Teal, with another 100+ on the Scrape with 2 Shoveler and 9 Shelduck. 2 Turnstone on the beach and 3 Purple Sand near the sluice. 1 Redwing in the Car Park.
Matt Lonsdale
c14:15 -17:15 Great circuit from farm down to Golf course, to set aside then across to Golf course clubhouse and back to farm.
5 Woodcock and 5 Snipe flushed unfortunately, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, 17 Redwing, 8 Song Thrush noted, alongside 14 Red L Partridge and 10+ Hares.
Fantastic amounts of farmland birds on sunflowers next to paddocks - 250+ Linnets, 50+ Chaffinch, 30+ Reed Bunts, 175+ Skylark (prob up to 300), 100+ Mipits, 2 greenfinch, few Stock Doves and few hundred Wood pigeons.
Mon 8th Feb 21
Reports from today:
Matt Lonsdale
18:06 Limited time today, to 30 mins around midday before called back to work and an hour before dark.
Good returns though... Midday- 1st win Little Gull, Kittiwake, Med Gull amongst c100 Common Gulls on outfall. Dunlin on beach, 5 groups of Brent Geese S (few hundred), 4 groups of Shelduck (c20 total), group of Wigeon (couple of Shoveler) and Teal S and lots of argentagus looking Herring Gulls. 3 Lapwings, 2 Redwing, Golden Plover, single Song Thrush, Skylark and Chaffinch all on the move.
Late afternoon- most bizarre 2 Avocets on scrape (surely they can’t think it’s spring 😅), Fieldfare, couple of Redwing, Song Thrush and Blackbirds in car park. 2 Goldcrest, Blackwit, 8 Snipe from raised platform. Few Turnstones on beach.
Sun 7th Feb 21
Reports from today:
Matt Lonsdale
09:55 7:30-9:30 watch from shelter. Poor visibility- 1 Kittiwake N, 2 Med Gull (1N,1S), LBB Gull N. Lots of Common Gulls and a Redwing in tamarisk in front of shelter. Walked around approach road but no woodcocks so far.... will have to try again later.
Paul Brayshaw
14:18 Snowy Frinton- seawall-golf course footpath-farm- Frinton loop. Cormorant north at sea, Merlin chasing a Pied Wag unsuccessfully over the golf course, fields to north of paddocks holding 33+ Golden Plover, 25 Skylark, 30 Linnet on set aside and Snipe over. Still damp underfoot!!
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| Photo Paul Brayshaw© |
Sat 6th Feb 21
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
16:19 Increasingly wet and gloomy dog walk around the golf course and seawall only produced a single Little Egret of note.
Pete Loud
17:13 Did have a walk round with Matt this morning, but much the same as of late. 2 Pink-foot still in with Grey-lags, decent number of Wigeon and Teal on the Scrape with 2 Shoveler. 1 Curlew and 18 Golden Plover flew over. In addition to Wigeon on the Scrape there were still 200+ on the sea, plus a couple of Red - throated Divers. Matt had a couple of Goldcrest along the entrance road.
Fri 5th Feb 21
All this talk of Tawny Owls, very jealous, but here's one a local artist friend had just finished this afternoon.
Reports from today:
Max Martin
12:58 Little Owl calling from junction, where Matt had his yesterday evening
Pete Loud
13:12 Quite fortuitous to have a day off today to enjoy the winter sunshine. 2 Pink-footed Geese were resting on the island on the Scrape, also 19 Shelduck. 300 Wigeon and 2 Shoveler were resting on the sea just offshore and 6 Turnstone were on the beach. Pair of Stonechat by boardwalk and a splendid Little Owl perched in a tree at the back of the Golf Course from the 1st southerly footpath up to the farm. 40 Linnets and 4 Chaffinch by set aside.
Thurs 4th Feb 21
Reports from today:
Pete Davis
13:40 Merlin perched in furthest tall tree looking approx South down footpath between golf course and farm 1330. (Where Ian found male Redstart couple springs ago). 2 Mistle Thrush farm paddocks.
Matt Lonsdale
19:08 Evening bike up to farm- absolutely soaked.
Reward though with 2 to 3 Tawny Owls calling around farm buildings c17:30 (none seen). Little Owl and Cettis again at junction of Golf Course and path down from farm with 2 Red-L- Partridge.
