Mon 28th Feb 22

From the Hide: The Green Sand showed briefly this morning and Avocets had a massive increase to 3, otherwise much the same, with 12 Curlew on the marsh, 2 Oystercatcher, plus the usual ducks. On the front were 6 Purple Sands and 3 Turnstone.

Up at the farm at least 1 of the Brambling was still with the Chaffinch flock DW/MR  

Reports from today:

Dennis Pryor

11:54 Male Brambling and Grey Wagtail at farm.

At the end of February the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 85.

 

Sun 27th Feb 22

Another very windy day with good amounts of sunshine, Pete Loud found that the 2 Brambling were still with the Chaffinch flock at the farm and c30 Curlew and the BlkWits were over the road

Along the front on the falling tide were 10 Purple Sands and 15 Turnstone but nothing much offshore.

The Green Sandpiper put in an appearance on the scrape along with 12 Lapwing, 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher and all the usual ducks, a single Stonechat was to the right of the hide. PL/MR

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

09:18 The 2 Brambling still showing well in with the large Chaffinch flock, behind the farm paddocks at Gt. Holland farm.

Steve Entwistle

15:30 9 Purple Sandpipers at the sluice.

 

Sat 26th Feb 22

A late start for me again this morning and a quick look over the scrape from the pillbox showed 7 BlkWits, 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe plus the usual Ducks and 10+ Curlew on the marsh. Good to bump into Matt Lonsdale and do a bit of catching up.

I was on my way to the farm when Liz sent out the message about the Brambling and luckily both Liz and the Brambling were still there when I arrived. There were two Brambling (1m-1fem) in with c80 Chaffinch, 3 Pied Wagtails & a few Goldfinch. Around the farm were c100 Linnet, lots of singing Skylark, Song Thrush & Greenfinch

Reports from today:

Liz Huxley

10:28 Male Brambling with Chaffinch flock in field N of paddocks.

Record shot Liz Huxley©

 

Fri 25th Feb 22

Very quiet today, no sign of the Purple Sands, the only additions on the scrape were a Lt. Egret and a Grey Heron, a Red Fox was showing well after Pete Davis got it's attention with his injured bird impressions. More pictures on Haven Wildlife page.

A 30 min look out to sea added only half a dozen Cormorants and a few Gulls but the day was saved by a cracking Grey Wagtail on the seawall. PRD/DC/MR

 

Thurs 24th Feb 22

A quick visit this afternoon was worthwhile, after watching the Peregrine dive-bombing a Buzzard out on the arable, I found that there were 9 Purple Sands on the seawall just north of the sluice. The Purple Sands were joined by a Dunlin (NFY) on the rocks in front of the Gunfleet Boating Club later in the afternoon.

Sorry about the quality but a bit windy for hand held camera in a rush

Around the Scrape: 80 Teal, 44 Wigeon, 10 Shoveler, 4 Mallard, 29 Curlew, 15 BlkWits, 4 Lapwing, 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, + lots more Ducks & Gulls below the raised platform.

 

Wed 23rd Feb 22

Great to see that at least one of the Dartford Warblers is still with us, a good morning for Brain Combes with the 2 Yellowhammers being site year ticks.

I headed for the farm after Brian's message but could not dig out the Dartford, the only extras to his report below were a Peregrine over the edge of the wood and the Chaffinch flock increased to 50+ in the morning sunshine. 

On the main site 10 Blkwits & 2 Curlew were on the Approach Rd. marsh with loads of Gulls and 3 Purple Sands were on the Sluice rocks

Reports from today:

Brian Combes

09:38 Dartford Warbler in NW corner of paddocks

09:39 Now Showing

09:40 Now Singing

Photo Brian Combes©

11:53 Also this morning: 6 Reed Bunting singing, 120+ Linnet, 2 Cetti’s Warbler singing, 4 Stonechat (1 by second pillbox, 3 in the hedge that runs down to the golf course from the bend in the bridleway), 2 Song Thrush singing, 6 Shoveler, 2 Avocet, 2 Brown Hare, 4 Curlew, 8 Pied Wagtail, 6 Greenfinch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 5 Meadow Pipit, 3 Buzzard, 2 Yellowhammer (flew over fields near farm), 18 Chaffinch (by farm)

 

Tues 22nd Feb 22

Not a bad morning at all, still a moderate breeze be much better than of late, just one Purple Sand on the outfall this morning with two Turnstone, a walk to the second pillbox added just 2 Meadow Pipit and a male Stonechat.

Things out on the marsh were much the same, no sign again of the Whitefronts but everything else seemed to be in more or less the same places, a Marsh Harrier was good to see, it spent some time down in the reeds below the raised platform and a Cetti's Warbler was heard in front of the hide. BW/BH/MR et.al.

 

Mon 21st Feb 22

Yet another very windy day with the third named storm of the week, but the wind didn't stop 5 Purple Sands and 3 Turnstone feeding on the sluice and seawall.

Around the marsh were c200 Wigeon, 100 Teal, 14+ Shoveler, 5+ Shelduck, 16 BlkWits (Approach Rd. marsh), 12+ Curlew, 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, a few Lapwing, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard in front of hide), and 2 Peregrine up on the arable with loads of Corvids, also several  hundred mixed gulls incl. a cracking virtually full summer Med Gull (SC) were below the raised platform. SC/PRD/DC/MR

 

Sun 20th Feb 22

Very windy again today and very quiet bird wise, 7 Purple Sands & 7 Turnstone were around the sluice area, 2 Brent headed south and a few gulls were offshore, no sign of the Whitefronts but the usual ducks and waders were below the raised platform PL/MR

 

Sat 19th Feb 22

Still a very chilly wind blowing this morning but that didn't stop 10 Purple Sands being on the seawall beside the sluice until the rising tide pushed them off.

Around the marsh the Whitefronts were moving between the arable and the pool below the raised platform, that area held 12+ BlkWits, c30 Curlew, Shelduck, Shoveler, Teal & Wigeon + lots of Gulls. A single Peregrine was up on the arable most of the morning but did have one fly around for a short while, c30 Golden Plover flew through  On the scrape, just the normal ducks, 20 Lapwing, 2 BlkWits, 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher. PL/DC/MR.

  

 

Fri 18th Feb 22

A Red Weather Warning for very strong winds today so unsurprisingly, no reports received so far.

 

Thurs 17th Feb 22

No reports received so far:

 

 

Wed 16th Feb 22

Still very windy with worse to come we are told, but the temperature reached 14 deg. this morning.

c40 Whitefronts were on the arable (viewed from the layby) on my way to site and the 9 Purple Sands landed on the sluice as I arrived.

Around the hide area there was not much change from yesterday, a Lt. Egret was seen first thing, there have not been many recently, but otherwise very quiet PRD/BH/MR et.al.

 

Tues 15th Feb 22

Weather wise today it started off well then went downhill fast, with heavy rain moving in by midday.

From the hide: On the scrape, 60 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 4 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 32 Lapwing, 22+ Curlew,  6 BlkWits, 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, 78 Bk H Gull, 15 Common Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 1 Med Gull, 4 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron. Up on the arable were lots of Carrion Crow & Jackdaws + 4 Rooks a the Peregrine was behind the 1st owl box. Lots more Gulls and Ducks were below the raised platform and 3 Whitefronts heads were seen between the reeds (bet their all there somewhere). I had 9 Purple Sands on the sluice mid morning but Liz Huxley managed 11 in two groups on her way from the Frinton end a bit later, great to have a good number still around. PNt/MR 

 

Reports from today:

Brian Combes

11:51 Earlier this morning: 15 Chaffinch, 1 Cetti’s (singing Frinton end), 65 Starling on golf course and 36 north, 5 Reed Bunting (2 singing), 19 Curlew south, 3 Song Thrush (singing 1 Haven 2 by farm), 2 Avocet, 3 Stonechat (pair golf course dump, male paddocks), 100++ Linnets (set aside), 1 Mistle Thrush (paddocks), 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Shoveler, 13 Corn Bunting (12 flew over paddocks towards set aside, + single), Marsh Harrier (over set aside).

 

Mon 14th Feb 22

Pete Davis had views of a Dartford Warbler along he front in bramble between the 3rd pillbox and the raised tee this morning, unfortunately Dave Cummings and I couldn't turn up a second with the pair of Stonechat in the farm paddocks. Lots of Rooks, Crows and Jackdaws were on the arable, c35 Linnet and good number of Skylark were over the set aside, in the paddocks the pair of Stonechat and 2 Mistle Thrush were being closely watched by a Kestrel, 2 Song Thrush were singing around the farm and several Tits and Finches were around the pond. DC/MR

Reports from today:

Dave Cummings

12:34 9 Purple Sands on sluice.

 

Sun 13th Feb 22

Dry this morning but with a biting wind, a few Cormorants and R T Divers plus 1 Oystercatcher heading south was all offshore (PL). From the hide: The Whitefronts had a couple of fly arounds but were mainly on the pool below the raised platform with the usual Ducks & Gulls and c 30 Curlew. On the scrape c60 Wigeon, c50 Teal, 15 Shoveler, 8 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 48 Lapwing, 12 BlkWits, 2 Avocet, 2 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Gull,  LBB, 1 GBB, Herring and Blk. H Gulls, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. PL/MR et.al.

 

Sat 12th Feb 22

During a short visit this morning it was nice to see 7 Purple Sands on the seawall north of the sluice, a few more than I have seen lately.

Thing were again much the same, the c40 Whitefronts were on the pool below the raised platform along with 30+ Curlew, lots of Teal & Wigeon, and a few Shelduck and Shoveler.

On the scrape: 50 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 10 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 40+ Lapwing, 15 BlkWits, 2 Avocet, 1 Green Sandpiper, 30 Blk. H Gull, 2 Common Gull, 8 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. PRD/MR 

 

Fri 11th Feb 22

I started today from the church and had a walk down through the farm, 3 Mistle Thrush (NFY) were in the paddocks and Song Thrush, Green & Gt. Spotted Woodpeckers along the side of Hollandhall Wood. A large Linnet flock flew over and disappeared into the set-aside and Skylarks were singing all over, it felt like Spring. Forty minutes spent looking at the hedge where the Dartford has been lately proved to be a waste of time so I continued on. 

The decision to turn around and head back to the farm with a friend I bumped into coming up from the golf course turned out to be a good move, after finding him a couple of Corn Buntings a pair of Stonechat in the farm paddocks had the Dartford Warbler with them. Over the next hour they visited every bramble clump around the paddocks with the Dartford showing well on several occasions. MR

Sorry it's not the Dartford but the Corn Bunting sat still

  

Reports from today:

Matt Turner

11:25 4 Purps on sluice, 43 Curlew fields to right of scrape. Quick look from seawall over scrape: 3 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 11 Blackwit and a Green Sand with female Stonechat on bushes. Oh and two hares boxing in field behind.

Photo Matt Turner©

Photo Matt Turner©

 

Thurs 10th Feb 22

I started the morning looking over the marsh west of the B1032 from the chippings lay-by, of note were c100 Greylags, 11 Canada Geese, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzards and lots of gulls and corvids. A Marsh Harrier was also seen over the marsh towards the scrape.

An hour or so spent around the bushes and the approach road was quite busy but with nothing of note. 

From the hide things were much the same again today apart from the Marsh Harrier that was still around the marsh and when I left was sitting on the ground in the sun annoying the corvids.

Reports from today:

Brian Combes

08:22 35+ White-fronts on fields.

08:44 4 Purple Sands - sluice rocks, then flew north

10:14 Dartford Warbler in bramble halfway down bridleway.

12:11 Also today: 45 Linnet (mustard seed field), 23 Teal, 2 Avocet, 3 Stonechat, 2 Greenfinch, 3 Goldfinch, 15 Chaffinch (fields/hedges W of footpath), 1 Redwing, 2 Corn Bunting (singing), 116 Wigeon, 83 Starling (N first thing in small groups), 3 Reed Bunting (2 singing), 1 Cetti’s Warbler (singing), 175+ Lapwing, 3 Canada Goose (on sea), 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Shoveler. Ten species in song.

 

Wed 9th Feb 22

A short lunch time visit for me today and again very little change. 8 Turnstone were on the rocks just south of French Point and 2 Purple Sands just to the north. Offshore a dozen or so Cormorants were milling around and c6 Red-t-Divers were sitting on the sea.

c1000 Woodpigeon were on the ploughed field toward Gt. Holland with a nice lot of Stock Doves and on the scrape were 60 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 10 Mallard, 8 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 4 BlkWits, 2 Avocet + 2 Stonechat to the right of the hide. 35+ Curlew were on the marsh behind the scrape and the marsh below the raised platform held the c40 Whitefronts and a lot more ducks and gulls. MR.

The Dartford Warbler was seen again this morning in the same hedge along the bridleway midway between the the farm and the golf course JG.

 

Tues 8th Feb 22

A stop in the chippings lay-by on the way to site showed a large flock of Greylag and Canada geese on the marsh toward Fan Bridge and 3 Mute Swans on the brook + gulls and corvids.

As it was a lovely morning I decided to walk along the front after a look over the marsh from the pillbox, the scrape was very quiet with a few Wigeon and Teal, 6 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 1 Avocet, 1 Grey Heron. The marsh below the Raised platform held the Whitefronts (c40 still), Lapwing c30 Curlew, and lots of Ducks and Gulls.

Along the front were 8 Turnstone on the rocks south of French Point and a Rock Pipit, at the golf course dump were a pair of Stonechats and a Meadow Pipit and a third Stonechat was down towards the Raised Tee, a fourth Stonechat was at the Wooden Hide on the way back.

 

Mon 7th Feb 22

A much better day today with a light breeze and sunshine during the morning, on the sluice rocks were 5 Turnstone and 1 Purple Sand. From the hide: Lots of ducks on the marsh below the raised platform along with the Whitefronts and a lot of gulls, around the marsh were c40 Curlew, 100 Lapwing, 1 Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier. On the scrape a few Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Shelduck, 11 BlkWits, 2 Avocet, 1 Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

The little Grey/brown dot in the middle is the best I could do with
 the Cetti's Warbler

 

Sun 6th Feb 22

I managed a walk to the hide between the showers this morning and on route 6 Purple Sands and a Turnstone were on the seawall beside the sluice. From the hide: all the ducks were again spread around the marsh, on the scrape itself were 9 BlkWits and 2 Avocet and 11 Cormorant was a big increase, c40 Whitefronts, c200 Lapwing, lots of Starling and a Peregrine were up on the arable, 14 Curlew on the marsh to the right and 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were also noted a were 4 Brown Hare and a Red Fox. The walk back to the car in bright sunshine was unexpected.

 

Sat 5th Feb 22

All the same again this morning, cold and windy, but dry, everything in more or less the same places apart from the Whitefronts that had decided to use the marsh to the right of the hide today. PRD/PL/RJ/MR

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

17:00 12 Turnstone + 7 Purple Sands on sluice this afternoon, 5+ Stonechat between sluice and raised tee and one Red-t-Diver on sea.

 

Fri 4th Feb 22

Not nice at the Haven today, with heavy rain and the temperature dropping from 7 to 3 degs. during the morning it was quite a short visit. 

All much the same, the Whitefronts still moving between the arable and the pools, 9 Canada Geese, BlkWits up to 12 with the 2 Avocet, 1 Snipe and a brief view of a Water Rail for Dave Cummings was about it. DC/RJ/MR.

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

16:42 8 Turnstone & 4 Purple Sand sluice on falling tide.

 

Thurs 3rd Feb 22

A large flock of Greylags with a few Canada Geese were on the marsh west of the B1032 this morning along with 2 Buzzards and 2 Grey Herons + lots of Gulls and Corvids.

From the hide: Much the same, c40 Whitefronts moving between the arable and the pool below the raised platform, and the usual Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck, Shoveler etc. On the scrape Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck, Shoveler & Mallard, 14 BlkWits, 2 Avocet. Around the marsh 1 Buzzard, c30 Curlew, c200 Lapwing, 1 Peregrine (on arable),  A large number of Gulls were following the plough on the field toward Gt. Holland lots of which were dropping into the scrape for a wash, incl 2 Common Gulls.

Along the front were 5 Purple Sandpipers RJ/MR

Reports from today:

Brian Combes

10:46 Dartford Warbler - Frinton end behind southernmost beach huts in reeds with Stonechat pair.

Photo Brian Combes©

18:11 In addition to Dartford Warbler (seawall then footpath to Holland Hall and bridleway back): 1 Cetti’s singing, 3 Reed Bunting (1 singing), 2 Pied Wag, 32 Curlew, 120+ Linnet (flock of 100+ farm), 20+ Chaffinch - farm, 2 Goldfinch, Song Thrush (singing in trees near Hall), 2 Corn Bunting (1 singing - first song for me this year), 3+ Stonechat (very mobile), 1 Rock Pipit

Pete Davis

13:51 Male type Dartford just showed well golf course dump.

15:04 No sign any Dartfords between farm and golf course either on way down or back from sea wall. (Water Rail in ditch behind golf course).

 

Wed 2nd Feb 22

From the hide: c150 Greylag, c40 Whitefronts, 19 Canada Geese, c60 Teal, c10 Wigeon, 9 Shelduck, 8 Shoveler, c300 Lapwing, c30 Curlew, 13 BlkWits, 2 Avocet, 1 Lt. Egret, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel + on the front were 4 Purple Sands, 1 Rock Pipit & 2 Stonechat RJ/MR.  

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

16:24 Still 2 Dartford Warbler same area as previously.

 

Tues 1st Feb 22

40 White-fronts on the arable viewed from the layby on the way in this morning. 

From the hide: c50 Teal, 20 Wigeon, 8 Mallard, 4 Shoveler, 11 BlkWits, 2 Avocet were on the scrape, 18 Curlew on the marsh to the right, c80 Lapwing & 14 Golden Plover were on the ploughed field behind the first owl box and on the pools below the raised platform were lots more Wigeon & Teal, a few Shoveler & Shelduck, c30 Greylag & the Whitefronts that moved between there and the arable several times.

Reports from today:

Brian Combes

09:15 At least 27 White-fronts in fields, 4 Purple Sandpipers by sluice.

14:10 Also this morning: 31 Curlew on the golf course first thing, 5 Stonechat (pair Haven end, pair by most northern pillbox, and single male at Frinton end), 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Avocet, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 22 Starlings north, 1 Turnstone.

Photo Brian Combes©

Photo Brian Combes©