Thurs 31st Mar 22
A bitter north easterly wind this morning meant that the temperature never got above 2 deg.
A very short visit to the hide showed that there was very little change, the Water Pipit was not seen and the high point of the morning was a group of 10+ Med Gulls that were on the pools below the raised platform, 4 of which relocated to the scrape. PRD/RJ/MR
.JPG)
At the end of March the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 103.
Wed 30th Mar 22
No sign of the Garganey this morning but the Water Pipit was showing well on Leon's marsh. otherwise all much the same , Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck, c40 Avocet, 10 Lapwing, 5+ Redshank, 3 BlkWits, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, Wren,1 Grey Heron and the Blackcap was still singing at the back of the sluice. PRD/RJ/DW/MR
Reports from today:
Richard Jeffree
09:05 Water Pipit still present Leon's marsh 3 Purps at sluice.
11:16 Male Wheatear still at farm in horse paddock.
Pete Davis
09:32 Male Blackcap Sluice bushes.
Tues 29th Mar 22
As there was a road closure on the B1032 between Gt. Holland and Holland-on-Sea I decided to spend the morning at the farm. Walking through the farm yard a Gt. Spotted Woodpecker was drumming from the wood and Finches and House Sparrows were chattering along the hedgerow, a Song Thrush and several Blackbirds were in the first paddocks and the usual Moorhens and Mallard were on the pond. The paddocks behind the pond held the bird I was hoping for a cracking Wheatear (FFY) plus 2 Mistle Thrush, a Singing Corn Bunting, Skylark and a Flock of c50 Linnet were still using the set-aside.
.JPG)
A message from Pete Davis that a Water Pipit was on the scrape was difficult to ignore but when the next message said 2 drake Garganey I was on my way to the hide.
Luckily both were still about when I arrived, the Water Pipit on show on Leon's Marsh, but the Garganey were playing hard to get until Pete headed for home and found that they were viewable from the wind pump area.
Simon & Pat Cox picked up both the Garganey and the Water Pipit later in the morning and when leaving had the first Blackcap of the year in the bushes between the wind pump and the sluice.
.JPG)
.JPG)
Pete Davis
12:39 Also this morning good candidate for ‘rubicola’ Common Stonechat.
%20PRD%2029%20Mar%2022.JPG) |
| Photo Pete Davis© |
16:45 Both drake Garganey still on scrape roosting on front of Island.
Mon 28th Mar 22
A late start for me today so I headed down to the hide.
From the hide: 2 Canada Geese, c30 Wigeon,18 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 6 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 42 Avocet, 18 Lapwing, 4+ Redshank, 4 BlkWits, 2 Snipe, 2 Common Gulls with Blk Headed Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Cetti's Warbler. SC/MR.
One of the BlkWits that has been on the scrape for a few days is colour ring and is a regular commuter between Portugal and the Suffolk/Essex coast (see Colour Ring Obs. page)
Sat 26th Mar 22
Report from today:
Pete Loud
Started at the farm this morning with Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, Corn Bunting and an adult pair of Med Gulls. Over the road 20 Curlew on the marsh, a Little Egret and 4 Little Grebe on the brook. Scrape and pools behind the raised Platform 51 Avocet, 5 Blackwit, 4 Redshank, 100+ Wigeon, 80 Teal, 20 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall and Redwing flew over. 2 Chiffs singing along entrance road and 1 in car park bushes. Walk to Golf course 2 groups of Siskin over, 22 birds, 2 groups of Chaffinch, 28, 1 Grey wagtail, 21 Curlew on marsh and 10 Turnstone on the rocks.
Thurs 24th Mar 22
Just 2 Chiffchaff of any note for me this morning (1 over the road and 1 in the approach road wood). MR
.JPG)
A walk to the Frinton end gave a pair of Stonechat in the moth sanctuary (singing male) area where a pair bred last year. PRD/RJ
The only additions to Brian's list below was a Peregrine up on the arable late morning and Snipe up to 5.
Reports from today:
Brian Combes
12:57 First thing this morning included: 5 Corn Bunting (birds singing from 5 locations at least 4 individuals), 7 Reed Bunting (singing), 13 Linnet, 2 Mipit, 3 Cetti’s Warbler (singing), 2 Stonechat (pair), 1 Chiffchaff (singing - farm), 1 Mistle Thrush (farm), 2 Redwing (flew over farm), 3 Fieldfare (by farm), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 2 Mediterranean Gull (pair with large group of Black-headed Gulls circling fields).
Scrape - 35 Avocet, 1 Snipe, 6 Gadwall, 12 Teal, 7 Redshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Shoveler, 25+ Wigeon, 1 Grey Heron.
%201.jpg) |
| Photo Brian Combes© |
Wed 23rd Mar 22
I spent a couple of hours at the farm first thing, no sign of a Wheatear and quite quiet all round, a few Linnets, Chaffinch, Skylark, a couple of Corn Buntings (singing), Green & Gt. Spotted Woodpeckers, a Mistle Thrush were the best. A Cormorant sitting on overhead powerlines was a first for me. Lots of Brown Hares around the fields at the moment. See Haven Wildlife page.
A look over the pools below the raised platform gave 60+ Wigeon, 14 Shoveler, 6 BlkWits and a lot of Gulls. 12 Turnstone and 2 Purple Sands were on the seawall south of the sluice, no sign of any Divers offshore today.
From the hide: 2 Mute Swan, 4 Canada Geese, c30 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 5 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 36 Avocet, 8 Lapwing, 4 Redshank, 4 BlkWits, 2 Snipe, 2 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cetti's Warbler. MR
.JPG)
Tues 22nd Mar 22
A beautiful morning for the short walk along the brook from the humpback bridge to the cattle pen, nothing special about apart from a very loud Cetti's Warbler in the roadside hedge but Linnets, Reed Bunting, L. T. Tit, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Starling, Song Thrush, Lt Grebe, and lots more all looked and sounded great in the warm sunshine.
A single Purple Sand was on the sluice rocks and 10+ Red T Divers were feeding close offshore.
Mon 21st Mar 22
From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 1 Greylag, 4 Canada Geese, a few Wigeon & Teal, 9 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 5 Shelduck, 48 Avocet, 15 Lapwing, 4 Redshank, 3 BlkWits, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Snipe, 1 Curlew, Cetti's Warbler (heard), 2 Reed Buntings in front of hide, Stonechat (fem), 2 Chinese Water Deer to the right. PRD/DC/BH/DP/MR et al.
A good number of Red-throated Divers were drifting northward out in the murk offshore.
Fri 18th Mar 22
Quiet around the bushes this morning, a pair of Sparrowhawk displaying over the raised platform was nice to see. Two Turnstone were on the sluice. RJ/MR
From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 3 Greylag, 2 Canada Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler & Shelduck, 7 Gadwall, 39 Avocet, 9 BlkWits, 9 Lapwing, 4 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin, Lots of Blk. H Gulls, 2 Med Gulls, 1 LBB Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (PRD), 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine. PRD/RJ/DW/BH/MR.
Reports From today:
Richard Jeffree
13:14 R T Diver on sea and at last Kingfisher sluice brook.
Pete Davis
13:29 1st summer Yellow Legged Gull loafing around scrape this morning. Record shots only, Mick may have better. Also Rich got me on a Kingfisher bombing up the brook from Sluice about 1230.
Thurs 17th Mar 22
A good start for me this morning when a walk through the approach road wood turned up a cracking male Firecrest, otherwise it was just the norm with a few Tits & Finches and lots of Robin & Blackbirds. A walk along the front to the raised tee added 2 Oystercatchers on French point, 2 Kestrel, 2 Meadow Pipit a Pied Wag & a Reed Bunting RJ/MR
From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 4 Greylag, 2 Canada Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, Shoveler, Mallard, 9 Gadwall, 46 Avocet, 36 Curlew, 10 Lapwing, 5 BlkWits, 2 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin, 1 Grey Heron, 2 cracking Med gulls in with the Blk Headed Gulls and a heard only Cetti's Warbler. A Lt. Grebe was on the brook behind the sluice and a Chiffchaff was along the sewage works hedge.
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
18:20 Frinton-farm-gc-seawall loop very quiet -2 Corn Buntings by paddocks plus 6 Hares. Still 30+ Chaffinch at the farm (Brian may have a more accurate count without the distractions of dogs and child!)
Brian Combes
19>02 Late afternoon - from Frinton, along seawall, to farm and back. In addition to Paul: Green Woodpecker, 2 Mipit, 1 Song Thrush (singing), 2 Goldfinch, 1 Sparrowhawk, 34 Starling (north). Quiet, but great to be birding after a week of feeling completely wiped out due to covid!
Wed 16th Mar 22
A quiet morning around the bushes although Richard Jeffree did have a Woodcock (NFY) along the approach road.
From the hide: 7 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag, Wigeon & Teal, 10+ Shoveler, 6 Shelduck, 6 Gadwall, 30 Avocet, 30 Curlew, 3 BlkWits, 2 Snipe, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard). RJ/LH/MR et al.
A Chinese Water Deer was on the marsh to the right of the hide, (see Haven Wildlife page).
Tues 15th Mar 22
I popped to the farm on the way in this morning but couldn't find the Black Redstart. The set-aside strip had been harrowed and c50 Chaffinch were feeding in the farm yard. Green & Gt. Spotted Woodpecker, Linnet, Corn Bunting, Skylark all noted + lots of Goldfinch & Blue Tits in the church yard.
From the hide: Things much the same with the ducks, Avocet 46, 4 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 BlkWit, but birds of the day were 2 Lt. Ringed Plover that flew around the scrape before seeming to drop into the marsh below the raised platform and were lost to view. PRD/BH/MR.
Mon 14th Mar 22
I started this morning over the road and along the approach road, with very little wind it was a pleasure and 1 Goldcrest and 3 Chiffchaffs were a good start to the day.
On the scrape more sign of wader movement with Avocet up to 55 along with 2 Mute Swans, 4 Canada Geese, 10+ Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, 6 Shelduck, lots of Wigeon & Teal, 3 BlkWits, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Fieldfare, Reed Bunting c300 Starling. PRD/DW/BH/MR et al.
A stop at the farm on the way home added 1 Black Redstart, 2 Stonechat, c100 Linnet, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, c30 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Bunting, 4 Corn Bunting. DW/MR
Yesterday's photo of the Black Redstart at the farm Richard Jeffree©
Reports from today:
Dennis Pryor
10:38 Female Black Redstart still at Frinton golf club.
Max Martin
16:19 Black Redstart still at farm.
Ron Colson
17:39 Black Redstart still behind beach huts opposite golf course Frinton...flitting @ 5:00pm
Sun 13th Mar 22
I started my morning at the Frinton end of site and found that the female Black Redstart found by Jeff Biddle yesterday afternoon was still behind the beach huts and out on the practice pitch. Then moving on to the farm the cracking male bird was still in the paddocks. All the work today was put in by Pete & Richard who covered most of the site, see report below.
 |
| Photo Jeff Biddle© from yesterday. |
Reports from today:
Pete Loud
14:05 Long walk from car park and around farm loop. Scrape there were 28 Avocet, 4 Blackwit, 14 Snipe, 7 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler & 2 Redshank. 1 Marsh Harrier over the marsh and a Peregrine flew over. Still 100+ Wigeon and plenty of Teal about. 8 Purple Sands on the sluice early on and 9 Turnstone later. Male Black Redstart still up at the Farm paddocks with 2 Brambling and a Stonechat. Still 100+ Linnet & 100+ Chaffinch in same area. Female Black Redstart was still by the beach huts opposite the Golf course.(RJ,MR,PL).
Sat 12th Mar 22
Bird of the day was a cracking Black Redstart found by Pete Davis in the farm paddocks. Although in the morning the Chaffinch flock at the farm was much smaller than of late with just one Brambling seen, in the afternoon Richard Jeffree managed to find 3 males.
A second Black Redstart (fem) was reported late afternoon at the Frinton end of the golf course.
A quick look over the scrape from the pillbox showed 25 Avocet, 8 BlkWits, 18 Curlew, plus all the usual stuff and 2 Purple Sands were on the sluice rocks.
First Adder and Slow Worm for me this year this morning (see Haven Wildlife page) MR
Reports from today:
Pete Davis
09:07 Cracking male Black Red farm paddocks beyond pond.
Richard Jeffree
16:34 Now 3 male Brambling at the farm
16:42 Black Red still nr. haybales
Jeff Biddle
17:13 Black Redstart at Frinton end of golf course.
Fri 11th Mar 22
The first Chiffchaff of the year this morning in the hedge along Holland brook near the humpback bridge, also 2 Cetti's Warbler and a nice group of Greenfinch in that area. MR.
From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 2 Canada Geese, c60 Wigeon, c40 Teal, 3 Gadwall, Shoveler and Shelduck, 34 Avocet, 8 Lapwing, 5 BlkWits, 2 Oystercatcher, c80 Blk H Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 LBB, and a few Herring Gulls, 2 Buzzard, 1Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard), 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 R L Partridge. PRD/DW/DC/RJ/MR.
Thurs 10th Mar 22
A much nicer day today and some indication of wader movement. After yesterdays Dunlin this morning there were 25 Avocet and 12+ BlkWits on the scrape along with the first pair of Gadwall (PRD).
 |
| Photo Pete Davis© |
On the scrape: c80 Wigeon, c40 Teal, 14 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 25 Avocet, 12+ BlkWits, 10 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 120+ Blk H Gulls, 5 Common Gulls, 1 LBB, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard). 2 Mute Swans were on the marsh to the right. PRD/MR
On the sluice rocks were 8 Purple Sandpipers.
Wed 9th Mar 22
A bit brighter today but still a cold wind off the sea, an hour spent around the the Approach Rd. and the carpark bushes turned up nothing new so headed for the hide. A single Dunlin was new on the scrape and a Redshank was heard but couldn't be found, otherwise not much change, 2 Mute Swans, 5 Avocet, 2 BlkWits, 2 Oystercatcher, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck and 15+ Shoveler, 2 cracking Med Gulls and a few smart Common Gulls were with the Blk. H Gulls PRD/BH/DW/JG/MR
Tues 8th Mar 22
Much the same again today from the hide with Wigeon, Teal, 4 Shelduck, 27 Shoveler, 12 Curlew, 10 Lapwing, 3 BlkWits, 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler and a few Reed Bunting + 5 Turnstone on the beach. DW/BH/MR
Reports from today:
Brian Combes
09:22 Brambling still in farmyard with chaffs
12:45 This morning included: 220+ Starling north in small groups mainly first thing, 2 Stonechat (1 golf course dump, 1 paddocks), 1 Cetti’s Warbler singing, 2 Avocet, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 50+ Chaffinch (flock at farm), 1 Brambling (with chaffinch), 60+ Linnet (set-aside).
Mon 7th Mar 22
Another bird for the year list this morning with a single Barnacle Goose sitting out on the marsh to the right of the hide, otherwise much the same on the scrape with 2 Mute Swans, 4 Canada Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler & Shelduck, c30 Lapwing, c25 Curlew, 4 BlkWits, 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard) and on the seawall 7 Purple Sands. PRD/SC/DC/MR et. al.
 |
| Record shot Pete Davis© |
Sun 6th Mar 22
Reports from today:
Pete Loud
12:34 Long walk today up to farm and back along seawall. Very quiet mostly, good to see the cracking male Brambling still in the 80+ Chaffinch flock behind the paddocks plus a couple of Corn Bunting. 4 Purple Sandpiper by the sluice, 25 Curlew and 11 Blackwit on the marsh, Scrape much the same as of late with 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher and a few Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon and Shelduck. Finished off finding a stunning male Firecrest in the hawthorns by the orchard, at times so close I was struggling to focus my bins.
Sat 5th Mar 22
I started the morning with an hour sea-watching which turned out to be worthwhile with a pair of Mergansers heading south the high point, also 5 Red T Diver (2 north and 3 sitting on the sea), 10+ Cormorant, 5 Wigeon, 1 Curlew (all north) and 100+ Starling (in off).
From the hide: 2 Canada Geese, c100 Teal, c80 Wigeon, 17 Shoveler, 5 Shelduck, 4 Mallard, c30 Lapwing, 11 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Avocet, 1 BlkWit, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk. $ Brown Hares and a Red Fox were also around.MR.
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
07:23 Close R B Merganser south for haven year list?
08:22 Steady trickle of Chaffinches north despite the rain.
09:15 Gc area - 280 Blk H Gull, 30 Common, 2 Med, Oyk, 185 Starling, 33 Chaffinch plus 22 over and a Grey Wag north.
Fri 4th Mar 22
Another nice morning, almost spring like again with 2 Song Thrush and lots of Chaffinch singing along the approach road, finally managed to dig out a Goldcrest with Dave Cummings in the wood on the north side. Lots of Gulls, 10 BlkWits and 1 Lt. Grebe were on the approach road marsh.
Two Purple Sands were on the sluice rocks and a few Cormorants heading north.
From the hide: 1 Mute Swan, 4 Canada Geese, c90 Wigeon, c60 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 6 Mallard, 5 Shelduck, c30 Lapwing, 24 Curlew, 3 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. DC/MR
A short look out to sea on the way back gave c80 Wigeon sitting on the sea and c30 Cormorants heading north.
Thurs 3rd Mar 22
I spent most of the morning at the farm, and most of that time was spent watching the Chaffinch flock 80+ strong which included at least 2 Brambling. A lot of the male Chaffinch are looking superb at the moment and it's nice to hear them singing along with the Skylarks and Linnets around the paddocks.
Reports from today:
Brian Combes
15:01 This morning included: 3 Cetti’s Warbler (singing), 65+ Linnet, 7 Reed Bunting (singing), 1 Stonechat, 3 Meadow Pipit, 38 Avocet (scrape), 6 Turnstone, 3 Greenfinch, 60+ Chaffinch (farmyard flock), 2 Brambling (in with chaffinch), 1 Buzzard (over farm), 2 Goldfinch.
Wed 2nd Mar 22
Very slow progress on the site year list this year, but one more to add this morning with an Egyptian Goose picked up from the hide by Pete Davis on the marsh below the raised platform wandering around for a few minutes before flying out towards Holland-on-Sea. Also from the hide 8 Canada Geese were around the marsh, one pair spending sometime in the reeds on the island where they normally nest. Otherwise much the same with c40 lapwing, 5 BlkWits, 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Snipe all the usual ducks and 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel. PRD/LH/MR
Reports from today:
Brian Combes
18:28 This afternoon: 150+ Starling (on golf course), 170+ Black-headed Gull (on golf course), 2 Shelduck (north), 3 Stonechat, 5 Linnet, 5 Turnstone, 2 Purple Sandpiper (on sluice rocks then flew north with Turnstone), 2 Avocet, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Cetti’s Warbler (singing), 12 Curlew (north), Little Owl (in hedge where footpath to farm leaves the golf course, 1 Hare, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (calling from woods near farm).
