Sat 31st July 21

Reports from today:

Pete Davis

13:11 Quite odd to see a juv Red-Legged Partridge tamely pottering around steps to the hide this morning! Scrape 1130-1230 juv Greenshank, juv LRP, Green Sand, ad Blackwit, Redshank and 19 Greylags.

Pete Loud

14:16 Scrape this morning, 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Blackwit and 1 juv Little Ringed Plover. Several Sand Martins moved through, 4 Swifts and the Male Peregrine was around most of the morning. 2 Wheatear were on the hay bales.(ML,MM,PL).

At the end of July the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 155.

 

Fri 30th July 21

I had a day off of painting today and managed to dodge most of the showers during a visit to the Haven this morning.

On the Scrape there were still quite a lot of young Avocet and several feisty adults giving the waders a hard time, which included 1 Greenshank, 1+ Green Sandpiper, 2 Wood Sandpipers (that only appeared just before we left) + Redshank, Lapwing and Oystercatcher. Also 1 Grey Heron, 6 Cormorant, 1 Shoveler, 1 Marsh Harrier, Herring & Blk. H Gulls (2 new BHG chicks on the island), 1 Common Gull, Swallows and a few Sand Martins PRD/DC/MR.

 

Thurs 29th July 21

No reports received so far:

 

Wed 28th July 21

Reports from today:

Pete Davis

10:22 3 of 4 juv Meds loafing on the scrape this morning including colour ringed bird. Otherwise 1 Green Sand the highlight.

Photo Pete Davis©

12:39 4 Turnstone including couple cracking summer plumage individuals, Cheveaux de Frise point this morning. Green Sand on scrape was joined by a juv LRP and single juv Wheatear and Whimbrel bale field near golf course.

Tues 27th July 21

 Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

08:37 Good Swift passage this morning - although steady rather than spectacular (total now just into four figures so far) plus some nice parties of Sand Martin more recently.  Haven seawall area run gave a total of 170 Swift plus 40 Sand Martin and three Meds (ad plus two juvs) in flight.

 

Mon 26th July 21

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

07:10 Seawall run Frinton to sluice and back.   Scrape - 2 Little Egret, Grey Heron, at least one each of Common and Green Sand (bins only so may be more!) plus 2 juv Med Gulls, at least three more Med Gulls (ad, 3cy and juv) on cut field with 14 Curlew and 8 Whimbrel.  Offshore 3 Canada Geese, 2 Curlew and three Common Sands initially on the rocks flew north. Yellow Wag on golf course.

Matt Lonsdale

 07:48 Scrape this morning - 4 Common and a Green Sand. Juv Med Gull and Peregrine over. 4 Whimbrel and 9 Curlew on cut field. 3 Canada Geese still offshore. Again no sign of Turtle Dove on wires.

 

Sun 25th July 21

A great start for Pete Loud first thing this morning when he located a Turtle Dove on the wires near the raised platform, the first record since 2016.

Reports from today: 

Pete Loud

08:09 Haven mega, juvenile Turtle Dove on the wires by the raised platform at 7:15 this morning. First one for me here in maybe 10 years.

08:10 Also Wood Sand on the Scrape.

08:34 Now 2 Wood Sandpipers.

12:48 Scrape this morning, a Common Sand joined the two Wood Sands, a Barn Owl was hunting early on, female Marsh Harrier flew along back of scrape and a Common Tern was flying in and out to feed at sea. Still plenty of Swift over the arable and a couple of Sand Martins. The mixed flock of Whimbrel & Curlew were still on the cut marsh with 5 juvenile, 2nd sum and adult Med Gull. Turtle Dove wasn’t seen after 9am but likely to still be in the area.

Photo's Pete Loud©

Matt Lonsdale

08:56 One happy man! 

Turtle Dove still present on wires on opening down to raised platform viewed from road.

Now flown down towards raised platform and seemed to land!

19:54 No sign of Turtle Dove so far this evening. Scrape busy though with 2 Wood, 2 Green and a Common Sand. Kingfisher in brook, large group of hirundines and swift’s inc some Sand Martins.

Photo Matt Lonsdale©

21:10 The Wood Sands flew high south calling at 20:05 but 3 Green Sands in the end. 1 Com Scoter N, 8 Whimbrel on the golf course, Barn Owl hunting.

Paul Brayshaw

09:55 A quiet golf course with nothing of note so wandered on down to see the Wood Sands.  Offshore a Kestrel in off, 5 single Gannet north, Common Tern south plus a total of 17 Whimbrel - a mixed group if 14 Curlew and 15 Whimbrel on the grazing marsh were additional (the whimbrel headed out to sea about 0940). At least 7 Meds also on the cut field (2 ad, 3cy, 4 1cy/juv).  Small numbers of Swift and Sand Martin around but no evidence of movement.

 

Sat 24th July 21

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

11:35 A stiff NE wind was blowing this morning but still fairly quiet offshore although did manage to see 4 Common Scoter, a Sandwich Tern  and a couple of Med Gulls north and a lingering Common Tern. Adult Male Peregrine flew north over the sluice and again later by the raised platform. Two Kingfishers were in the brook behind the sluice. On the Scrape were a Juv. LRP, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Adult Dunlin, 2 Sand Martin flew over. On the recently cut meadow by the Golf Course were 14 Curlew, 8 Whimbrel, 5 Lapwing and 3 Ad plus juv Med Gull. Male Banded Demoiselle was along the brook. 

19:56 Quick visit this evening, the LRP was still on the Scrape, Barn Owl was hunting the marsh and the Male Stonechat was near the wooden hide.

Matt Lonsdale

12:20 In addition to Pete’s report a juv. Willow Warbler at the dipping pond just after midday signals the start of the slog of the bushes for the Autumn. 3 Gannet N offshore, although all waders had left the scrape and good turnover of Med Gulls inc. a few Juvs.

 

Fri 23rd July 21

No reports received so far:

 

Thurs 22nd July 21

Reports from today:

Pete Davis

12:17 Yesterday’s juv Med Gull relocated to golf course this morning. Otherwise Common Sand scrape and Whimbrel fly through otherwise very quiet.

Photo Pete Davis©

 

Wed 21st July 21

Reports from today:

John Hall

14:56 P M visit to hide. Suffice to say Mick picked a good week to paint his house, same old same old. Could not find a single small wader. A lot of Swallows, 1 Sand Martin and a few Swift’s over arable. 3 Pied Wagtails and 2 Stock Doves back of scrape. Left hide at 14.55

Matt Lonsdale

Haven quiet this evening although this summer plumage Sanderling on the sluice made the trip worthwhile alongside 5 Sandwich Tern N.

Photo Matt Lonsdale©

 

Tues 20th July 21

No reports received so far:

 

Mon 19th July 21

A single Dunlin was the new bird on the scrape today, the two Common Terns were back on the island but otherwise much the same.

Lots of young Swallow around and still good numbers of Swift over the arable.

 

Sun 18th July 21

Two Lt. Egrets (juvs) and a single Snipe were the only new birds on the scrape this morning.

On the scrape: 3 Canada Geese, 2 Shelduck (+3 ducklings), 2 Teal, 6 Cormorant, 2 Lt. Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 21 Avocet (+ chicks), 5 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, 40+ Blk. H Gulls (incl 2 chicks & 2 Juvs), 10+ Pied Wagtails, Swallows and Swifts over the arable, 1 Buzzard.

80+ Swallows were on the wires around the raised platform on the way back to the carpark with 6+ Sand Martins

Lots of butterflies around plus the first Six-spot Burnet moths of the year.

 

Sat 17th July 21

Reports from today:

Max Martin

08:35 2 Common + 5 Sandwich Terns on scrape before flying off North.

Pete Loud

13:36 Fairly quiet this morning, as you might expect at this time of year, very pleasant none the less. A Common Sandpiper was on the Scrape with the usuals, plus 3 Teal. A large hatch over the marsh and fields attracted 2-300 Swallows and 3 Sand Martin, still 100+ Swift. The gulls were joining in and an Adult Med was amongst them. A Marsh Harrier soared high and drifted off. 1 Yellow Wagtail flew along the marsh and the female Stonechat was by the moth enclosure. Lots of Butterflies about including Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Large Skipper, Ringlet, Gatekeeper and a couple of Emperor Dragonflies.

 

Fri 16th July 21

A short visit to the scrape late morning with my grandson turned out to be worthwhile with 2 Bk. T. Godwits, 1 Common Sand and a new for year Kingfisher all seen. 

Also noted at the sluice cottages was a Gatekeeper butterfly (NFY)

No reports received so far:

 

Thurs 15th July 21

Reports from today:

Pete Davis

12:13 Other than 6 Sandwich Terns (inc 2 juvs) and a Teal the scrape was dead this morning 0915-1030.

Photo Pete Davis©

Wed 14th July 21

 Popped over for a short visit after lunch and all still as John's report below.

Reports from today:

John Hall

11:29 Scrape 10-15 am. 4 Common  Sands, 2 Dunlin, usual Avocets and chlcks of varying ages. Canada Goose family back, gosling nearly adult size, Juv B H Gull’s in with adults, 5 Cormorants, pair Shelduck with 3 Chicks, 3 Mallard families, 2 Lapwings 2 Stock Doves, 1 Pied Wagtail. Left hide 11.30.

Tues 13th July 21

 On the scrape this morning were 3 Common Sandpipers, 1 LRP, 10 Avocet (+ lots of chicks), 11 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Shelduck (+ 3 ducklings), 2 Teal, Lots of Mallard with ducklings, 7 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Grey Wagtail, 8 Pied Wagtail, 60+ Swift, 30+ Swallows, 1 Sand Martin, 1 House Martin. PRD/DW/MR

 Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

21:50 Scrape in last light tonight- 

3 Common Sand, LRP and Greenshank which dropped in calling @ 21:20.

Mon 12th July 21

The only change on the scrape this morning was a Lt. Ringed Plover that showed well for most of the morning, the 2 Common Terns were around first thing (DC) and 3 Sandwich Tern were noted mid morning by Liz Huxley.

Reports from today:

 John Hall

16:32 Lt Grebe in Brook, LRP at back of scrape left of island then lost behind. At least 3 families of Mallard chicks. Avocets very territorial chasing anything that moves in their domain. One bird still sitting on small island and another on main island. 6 Cormorants, 2 Oyks, no Shelduck were observed. LRP showing at 16.30 as I am leaving.

 

Sun 11th July 21

A late start again today so I headed to the scrape, at the sluice 2 Common Terns were feeding offshore, 2 Curlew & 1 Sandwich Tern headed south. On the scrape 1 Common Sandpiper was along the back edge, otherwise much the same as usual. Half way through my visit a cracking Blk. T. Godwit came out from behind the island for a few minutes before returning and was not seen again.

On the scrape: 3 Canada Geese, 3 Teal, 2 Shelduck (+3 ducklings), 10 Avocet (+c10 chicks), 5 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Sand, 1 Blk. T. Godwit.

 

Reports from today:

Simon Cox

During a ringing session (see Ringing page): Barn Owl hunting, male Stonechat, 2 Curlew south, Whimbrel heard.

 

Sat 10th July 21

It was good to see the Common Terns were still on the island this morning, managing to steer clear of the Avocets, this was not the case for 3 Blk. T Godwits that had a few attempts to settle on the scrape but they got so much grief they flew out.

On the scrape: 3 Canada Geese, 2 Shelduck (+ 3 ducklings), 3 Teal, lots of Mallard with ducklings, 10 Avocet (+ 10+ chicks), 5 Redshank, 4 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 6 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, Blk H Gulls (inc. 2 Juvs. on Leon's Marsh & 2 chicks on the island). 

A Barn Owl was along the back hedge, 3 Sand Martins were with c20 Swallows around the site and 50+ Swift were feeding over the rape field.  PL/ML/MR

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

19:15 A couple of rides through the site to/from Clacton with the kids this afternoon had a total of four adult meds south along with black heads (didn’t keep a haven only count but 1400 through today) and a stonechat north of the wooden hide.   Couldn't spot anything of note on the scrape bar two common terns but as John had noted, lots of youngsters which was lovely.

Fri 9th July 21

After the last few days of new birds each morning today was a bit of an anti-climax, although that is a bit unfair on a very smart adult Common Gull. The 2 Common Terns were still on the island and 17 Avocet + chicks, 5 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 4 Lapwing, 2 Shelduck, 6 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron were on the scrape. Around the marsh were Reed & Sedge Warblers, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Swallows, 1 Buzzard and over the rape field were 30+ Swift. PRD/DC/MR.

Reports from today:

John Hall

16:39 Scrape much the same. 2 Wood Sands on Leon’s Marsh. Highlight for me the number and variety of chicks on show. Avocet, Mallard, Shelduck, BH Gull. Lapwing. Some of the Avocet chicks almost into adult plumage and some only just hatched. And It looks as though there are adults still sitting on eggs. Pied Wag feeding back of scrape.

 

Thurs 8th July 21

Three Common Terns were flying around the scrape first thing this morning, birds that have been few and far between at the Haven this year. Also at the back of the scrape were 4 LRP's that looked a lot like a family group, otherwise all much the same DW/MR

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

21:01 2 LRP, Blackwit and 7 Teal on scrape this evening. Group of c70 hirundines inc. c50 Sand Martin and c20 Swallow. Gt. S Woodpecker earlier up the farm.

Wed 7th July 21

 Autumn waders continue with 2 Wood Sandpipers (NFY) for Pete Davis on the scrape this morning, a quick visit for me after lunch showed they were still around as were 18 Avocet + 10+ chicks, 8 Shelduck, 1 Teal, 2 Blk. H Gull chicks, 4 Cormorants and a Grey Heron.

Reports from today: 

Steve Piotrowski

 08:19 Strong southerly Swift movement early doors - 350 from 5.30-6.00. Single Curlew flying south.

Pete Davis

09:58 2 Wood Sands on scrape.

11:29 Wood Sands still 11:30 on main island and looking settled (until Matt gets within viewing distance of scrape later!).

Photo Pete Davis©

 

Tues 6th July 21

No reports received so far:

 

Mon 5th July 21

We haven't had summer yet but it looks like autumn may have started with 2 Common Sands and 3 Dunlin on the scrape this morning. Also 26 Avocet + c10 chicks, Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, 20 Shelduck + 3 ducklings, 6 Teal, 3 Canada Geese, 30+ Swifts, Swallows & 1 Sand Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Barn Owl quartering the marsh at the back of the scrape. PRD/DW/DC/MR

 

Sun 4th July 21

Blackcaps singing around most of the site and lots of young birds but the ever changing weather is not good for man or beast.

Things much the same on the scrape with the addition of 2 Blk. H Gull chicks on the island and  3 Shelduck ducklings plus a few newly hatched Avocets

Quite amazing the number of Butterflies around shortly after the heavy rain including the first Small Skipper of the year (see Haven Wildlife page). PL/MR

 

 

Sat 3rd July 21

No reports received so far.

 

Fri 2nd July 21

The only report from today was that Pete Davis had 6 Blk. T Godwits on the scrape.

Thurs 1st July 21

A Marsh Warbler (or possibly Blyths Reed) was heard by Pete Davis in brambles near to the wooden hide around 11:00, unfortunately the bird could not be seen and has not been relocated at this time. 19:00

No reports received so far: