Fri 30th Sept 22

No reports received so far:

 At the end of September the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 166.

 

Thurs 29th Sept 22

A few more birds around today, a walk around the site with Richard gave 6+ Blackcaps, 4+ Chiffchaffs, 1+ Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest. 9 Curlew were on the Approach Rd. marsh (RJ)

Five Turnstone and an Oystercatcher were on the sluice with the gulls and a Mute Swan flew along the front toward Frinton.

From the Hide: 86 Teal, 1 Shelduck, 30 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 19 Blk. H Gulls, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard only), 3 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard.

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

10:36 Firecrest 5 bar gate.

 

Wed 28th Sept 22

Very quiet around the bushes this morning, Richard & Mike walked the Dell and the Approach Rd with very little return, just a few Chiffchaffs and 5 Curlew on the Approach Rd. marsh.

Today 2 Turnstone were on the sluice with the gulls.

From the hide: 137 Teal, 1 Shelduck, 38 Lapwing, 13 Blk. H Gulls, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. RJ/BH/MO'H/MR

Richard had a Whinchat on a walk to Frinton and I had 3 Mallard and a Lt. Grebe on the brook below the raised platform and 2 Goldcrest beside the 5 bar gate.

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

11:56 Whinchat south end of GC.

 

Tues 27th Sept 22

I spent most of the morning around the southern end of the site for a total of 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Blackcap and a Gt. Spotted Woodpecker, plus 5 Turnstone were on the sluice.

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

19:03 Barn Owl this evening from pillbox.

 

Mon 26th Sept 22

I struck lucky this morning and made contact with the Coal Tit on the feeders, also around the bushes were a few Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap plus a couple of Swallows

A single Turnstone was again on the sluice with the Herring Gulls.

From the hide: 1 Greylag, 140+ Teal, 3 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 18 Lapwing, 4 Curlew, 50 Blk. H Gulls, 50 Herring Gulls, 2 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrel 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard 1 Cetti's Warbler & 1 Water Rail (heard only).

Pete Newton had a Merlin chasing starlings as he was leaving site.

 

Sun 25th Sept 22

Richard had the Coal Tit in the Feeders area before I arrived, but other than that a Redwing near the 5 bar gate was probably bird of the day from our walk around the bushes, just 3+ Chiffchaff in with the tits was about it.

From the hide: 3 Mute Swans, 155 Teal, c40 Lapwing, 5 Curlew (on the marsh), 52 Blk H Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Cetti's Warbler  

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

08:27 Coal Tit feeding station.

 

Sat 24th Sept 22

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

08:48 Little Tern north past haven shelter.

Max Martin

10:58 Spot Fly, 5 bar gate.

Dave Cummings

11:32 Goldcrest car park bushes.

Matt Lonsdale

13:04 Haven this morning - Vismig - Hundreds of Mipits arriving in/off as well as some Swallows. 4 Grey Wags and 4 Siskins + c10 Alba Wags. 

No sign of Jack Snipe on scrape but Spot Fly (5 bar gate), 2 Blackcaps, few Chiffs in bushes. Whinchat at Gc dump. Offshore - Group of 6 Scoter N, couple of each Common and Sandwich Tern N, 3 Gannets, 3 Shelduck, 5 Brent Geese and few waders. Peg and Kestrel in/off. Marsh Harrier also noted.

 

Fri 23rd Sept 22

Very quiet around the bushes a Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaff in the tit flock and a single Turnstone with the gulls on the sluice

From the hide: 164 Teal, 1 Shelduck, 8 Ringed Plover (dropped in for the duration of the rain shower), 6 Lapwing, 5 Curlew, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Common Snipe, 14 Blk. H Gull, 1 Med Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard. 

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

10:33 Jack Snipe still at back of scrape.

12:41 Rock Pipit, Grey Wag, French Pt. 2 Wheatears + at least 8 Stonechat along seawall.

Steve Grimwade

13:53 Pectoral Sandpiper on HH scrape.

13:56 Just flown high south.

 

Thurs 22nd Sept 22

Two Chiffchaff, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Blackcap and lots of House Sparrows in the Dell this morning plus a steady movement of Swallows & House Martins overhead.

From the hide: 150+ Teal, 3 Wigeon, 3 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 1 Shoveler, 6 Lapwing (the large flock dropped in as we were leaving), 2 Snipe, 1 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 14 Blk. H Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 Grey Heron RJ/MO'H/MR et al.

A short seawatch from the sluice gave 14 Wigeon heading south and a Turnstone on French Point. RJ/MR

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

18:13 Jack Snipe again this evening exactly same spot difficult to see scope essential. 

Brian Combes

19:42 Frinton/seawall/farm circuit this evening: 3 Green Woodpecker, 2 Pied Wag, 1 Cetti’s (singing), 2 Buzzard, 2 Stonechat (golf course dump), 1 Whinchat (golf course dump), 6 Curlew, 1 Peregrine (west of golf course, moving south), 1 Chiffchaff (by farm pond).

 

Wed 21st Sept 22

Simon had a good morning (see Ringing page) with an interesting Chiffchaff and a cracking Kingfisher, Whinchat and Cetti's Warbler in the nets.

Photo Simon Cox©

A few Chiffchaffs around the Dell and Dipping Pond area otherwise quite quiet around the bushes. I joined Dave & Brian in the hide with a couple of Dunlin and half a dozen Curlew on show, but as always happens it was just 15 mins after they left that I picked up a Jack Snipe (NFY) along the back of the scrape.

From the hide: 117 Teal, 3 Mallard, 70 Lapwing, 6 Curlew, 2 Dunlin, 2 Bar T Godwits, 1 Jack Snipe (MR), 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. DW/BH/MR.

 Reports from today: 

Simon Cox

10:10 Chiff in hand now Reed-bed strikes me as slightly browner than others I’ve been handling tho’ may just be variation of usual race.

12:19 Kingfisher in hand now, Reed-bed.

Steve Grimwade

14:53 Jack Snipe still on the scrape.

Pete Loud

17:08 Jack Snipe showing still at back of Scrape (PD,PL)

 

Tues 20th Sept 22

Mike O'Hanlon had a nice male Sparrowhawk just south of the Dell first thing, could be why it was very quiet when I had a walk round.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Two Chiffchaff and two Goldfinch were around the Dipping Pond and a walk through the approach road wood added 3 Willow Warblers and 2 Goldcrest in with a tit flock.

A single Turnstone was with a large group of Herring Gulls on the Sluice and 6 Cormorant came in off the sea..

From the hide: 164 Teal, 26+ Lapwing, 2 Ruff (M O'H), 1 Snipe, 1 Curlew, 31 Blk. H Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warbler 1 Kestrel, 2 Buzzard. MR

 

Mon 19th Sept 22

A Day of Respect

 

Sun 18th Sept 22

Very quiet around the site this morning, a Goldcrest was the high point for Richard Jeffree along the Approach Rd.

From the hide: 3 Greylag, 127 Teal, 58 Lapwing, 1 Dunlin, 1 Grey Heron and a few gulls.

A short seawatch added just 3 Sandwich Tern heading North east RJ/MR

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

10:41 Wander along the seawall alongside the gc and all very quiet bar a Spotted Fly in the big tamarisk clump behind the reed area on the gc at the extreme north of the haven boundary.  No movement but c25 House Martin, 5 Swallow feeding and a couple of Mipit on the (busy) gc. 8 Brent, 2 Scoter and a Gannet north at sea.

 

Sat 17th Sept 22

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

08:44 Spot fly still in copse south of dell.

12:08 Quiet around the haven today just a few Chiffs, Common and Lesser Whitethroat around the bushes a brief Dunlin and Green Sand, 60+ Lapwing +1 Teal

The walk down to the raised tee only produced 1 Whinchat and 5 Stonechat highlight of the morning was 4 Pintail on the sea north of the sluice.

 

Fri 16th Sept 22

A Spotted Flycatcher was showing well in the small wood just south of the Dell along with a few Lesser & Common Whitethroats and 2 Turnstone were on the rocks in front of the café. 12 Pied Wagtail and 2 Mippits were on the greensward.

From the hide: 170 Teal, 48 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 8 Blk H Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, Swallows, House & Sand Martins.

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

08:05 Brief foray into haven reporting area along the seawall - 5 Grey Wag, 60+ Mipit (mix of south and in off), Sprawk in off, 2 Wheatear on sea wall.

Simon Cox

11:56 4 Gannets N at 11:30

Richard Jeffree

17:14 Today's spot-fly at the haven.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

 

Thurs 15th Sept 22

An early start today but just managed to miss Simons Tree Sparrow (NFY), (see Ringing page). Along the front 2 Stonechat, 2 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear, Sedge & Reed Warbler, Lots of Mippits & Swallows, House Martins and a few Sand Martin, 7 Curlew & 2 Blk. T Godwits (Over) 

From the hide: 3 Greylags, 136 Teal, 5 Mallard, 26 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 1 Ruff, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorants, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler (Heard). 

Reports from today:

Simon Cox

07:36 Tree Sparrow in hand now, Reed bed site.

Mike O'Hanlon

08:19 Redstart still just north of the GC on path to farm

08:41 Showing well intermittently 100m north of golf course.

Steve Piotrowski 

15:52 Good southerly movements on my final survey for the Haven 06.30-9.30 hrs: 618 Swallows, 214 House Martins; 14 Sand Martins; 222 Meadow Pipits; 2 Grey Wagtails; 1 Yellow Wagtail. On Scrape: 194 Teal; 20 Lapwing; 1 Avocet; Little Egret; 7 Curlew ova & 2 Blk-t Godwit ova. Thanks for all your help everyone.

Wed 14th Sept 22

After a late start I was lucky to pick up the Spotted Flycatcher in the Dell with a bit of help from RJ. It was busy around that area with a lot of new Whitethroats joining the Lesser Whites, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps and a single Garden Warbler was also seen. Two Oystercatchers and a Turnstone were on the sluice with the Herring Gulls. A second Spot Fly was in the white poplars alongside the mounds, again with Willow Warbler, Lesser & Common Whitethroats. A third Spot Fly was seen to the right of the hide with 3+ Whinchats, Reed & Sedge Warbler and a Cetti's Warbler was heard only.

On the scrape: 7 Greylag, 118 Teal, 6 Mallard, 30 Lapwing, 7 Curlew, 2 Green Sands, 1 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 15 Blk. H Gull, 5 Herring, 2 Common Gulls, 2 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, JJ/MO'H/MR

Reports from today: 

Graham Sutton

08:27 Haven: c.700 Mipits in off in last 45 minutes & still coming…

11:23 Just for the record, 1150 Mipits in off by 0905.

Richard Jeffree

08:51 Spot Fly in Dell.

17:28 Cracking male Redstart on the footpath to the farm just as you leave GC.

Pete Loud

18:55 Haven this afternoon 3-6pm. Another Redstart, a fem/imm type on the corner of the radar mast fence at 5:45. Spot Fly still on corner of ringing compound by the brook. Around the bushes,2 Reed Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 7 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler and Great Spotted Woodpecker.1 Avocet, many Teal and a few Lapwing on the Scrape. Walk to Golf course, 3 Wheatear, 3 Whinchat, 2 Stonechat,1 Whimbrel, 3 Sand Martin and 4 Sanderling flushed from the beach.

Steve Piotrowski

19:33 Haven from 2.30-4.30. For the sake of completeness a few additional records on top of Peters impressive list: 3 Sanderling + 2 Turnstone nicely snuggled in the tidewrack just north of sluice, 164 Teal, 59 Lapwing, Snipe, 2 Green Sands & Ringed Plover on Scrape. Lots of warblers in back hedge adjacent to wooden hide (suspect different from Peter’s list): Reed & 3 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffs, 9 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whites & Bullfinch.

 

Tues 13th Sept 22

Reports from today:

Graham Sutton

09:24 From sea-watching shelter 0630-0815: 3 Common Scoter NE, 1 Whimbrel & 10 Ringed Plover SW, 35 Mipits in off, 2 Tree Pipits SW. 300 Swallows SW & 100-150 over reedbeds/sewage outfall.

Mike O'Hanlon

10:48 Whinchat at Farm

13:15 Wheatear on the log pile at HH

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

13:34 6 Sanderlings on the beach north of the sluice

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Early afternoon Pete Davis had a couple of interesting gulls on the sluice one of which was this Yellow Legged Gull.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Mon 12th Sept 22

 Reports from today:

Pete Davis

08:14  Ring Necked Parakeet charging around car park bushes!

13:50 Spot Fly near orchard, Guillemot drifted SW close in past Sluice, Tree Pipit (heard only) and Grey Wag over, Green Sand scrape, Whinchat with couple Stonechat to right of hide.

 

Sun 11th Sept 22

No reports received so far:

 

Sat 10th Sept 22

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

10:30 6 Whinchat 4 Stonechat at least, log pile

Pete loud

12:28 First thing around Dell and entrance road, 7 Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat, very little elsewhere in the bushes. Peregrine flew along the front. Offshore from sluice,1 Gannet and 2 Sandwich Tern. Golf course,1 Whimbrel,17 Curlew and 4 Wheatear. 2 Common Sand on rocks and 4 Sanderling on way back. Big passage of House Martins, estimated 1000+, 2 Swifts and some Swallows. Small groups of Mippits in off. 6 Whinchat, 4 Stonechat , Wheatear and Whitethroat in the log pile area.(RJ,PL).

 

Fri 9th Sept 22

A big fall of Blackcaps this morning with Richard & Dave having 40+ around the Dell first thing with Lesser Whitethroats and Willow Warblers. Still good numbers around when I arrived plus a Redstart that showed well for a while before being flushed and becoming quite elusive.

The Pied Flycatcher was again seen in the Orchard area for a second or two before flitting off not to be seen again.

From the hide: 7 Greylags, 155 Teal, 7 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 8 Lapwing, 3 Curlew, 1 Ruff, 1 Curlew Sand (PRD), 132 Blk. H Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 2 Grey heron, 2 Peregrine (on arable), 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, plus a few Swallows & House Martins. PRD/DC/RJ/MR

Reports from today

Pete Davis

10:46 Curlew Sand scrape!! At last.

10:52 and it’s gone....

 

Thurs 8th Sept 22

A Pied Flycatcher was seen briefly again this morning in the orchard area along with Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat

From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 144 Teal, 6 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 1 Wigeon, 4 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 26 Curlew, 2 Lapwing, 68 Blk. H Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 2 GBB Gulls, 2 LBB Gulls, 1 Kingfisher, 6+ Meadow Pipits, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard only), 2 Buzzards, 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel. PRD/RJ/MR

A short seawatch on the way back to the carpark added, 1 Brent Goose, 2 Bar T Godwits, 8 Knot, heading south and 1 Oystercatcher. Two Wheatear were on the seawall south of the sluice. PRD/RJ/MR

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

08:32 Winter plumage Barwit + 23 Curlew on golf course.

 

Wed 7th Sept 22

Very quiet all round today, 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcap and a few Lesser & Common Whitethroats was about it around the bushes, a single Stonechat was on the wood pile.

From the hide: 116 Teal, 6 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 10 Lapwing, 40 Blk. H Gulls, Cetti's Warbler (heard only), 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, Swallows were again on the move with good numbers of House & Sand Martins PRD/RJ/MO/MR

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

13:15 2 Wheatear on the upper (northernmost) Frinton farm track.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

 

Tues 6th Sept 22

Quiet around the dell this morning, a Pied Flycatcher was along Manor Way near the 5 bar gate, the Boating Club compound was busy with Lesser & Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, poss. Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Blue & Great Tits, Robin, Dunnock & Wren. Two Lesser, 1 Common Whitethroat and 1 Willow Warbler were in the bushes behind the sluice. 

From the hide: 100+ Teal, 5 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 16 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 Ruff, 37 Blk. H Gulls, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, plus a steady movement of Swallows and House Martins MR

Liz Huxley had a Firecrest in the carpark bushes and Graham Sutton had a two hour seawatch that was a lot more productive than of late, adding Eider to the year list and Pete Davis continued the trend by adding Long-tailed Skua shortly after lunch.

Reports from today:

Graham Sutton

08:51 Haven seawatch 0630-0830: Fulmar N, Wigeon 38 S, ++ Teal  S & N, Shoveler S, 2 Eider S, 33 C. Scoter S, 4 Gannet S, ++ Sandwich & Common Terns mostly S, 3 Kittiwakes S. 200+ Swallows S.

Scrape: 1 Ruff. Still 1 Reed Warbler & 1 L. Whitethroat.

Liz Huxley

10:05 Firecrest in bushes by car park.

Pete Davis

15:00 Long Tailed Skua SW 1455 from shelter landward side of yellow Haven buoy !!

 

Mon 5th Sept 22

Very quiet today with just a couple of Willow Warblers and the tit flock around the bushes, a good number of Swallows and House Martins were moving south. On the scrape just 1 Snipe and half a dozen Lapwing, Teal up to 110, 2 Buzzards and a Kestrel over the arable. PRD/DC/MR

 

Sun 4th Sept 22

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

12:15 Scrape fairly quiet today, still 90+ Teal, 2 Snipe & Curlew. A few Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat around the bushes. Short seawatch did produce a few Wigeon and Teal, 3 Knot and 3 Common Tern all moving south. 

 

Sat 3rd Sept 22

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

08:44 Guillemot south past shelter.

09:37 Knot on scrape.

Dave Cummings

12:56 Knot still on scrape - along with Green Sand, Snipe and 4 Dunlin.

Pete Loud

13:07 Haven this morning. Offshore,1 Guillemot, 2 Wigeon, 3 Teal. A few Swallows moving through, but mainly House Martins 140+. Around the bushes, 2 Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat & 2 Stonechat. Grey Wagtail at Sewage Farm and 2 Yellow in with the cows. Scrape, Knot, Green Sand, 3 Snipe, 7 Curlew, 1 Shoveler and 120+ Teal.(PL,ML).

 

Fri 2nd Sept 22

A few Willow Warblers, Lesser & Common Whitethroats, and the odd Blackcap around the bushes this morning plus a very short view of a Pied Flycatcher.

From the hide: 90 Teal, 5 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck, 1 Shoveler, 2 Grey Heron, 10 Lapwing, 1 Lt. Stint, 1 Curlew, 93 Blk H Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 3 LBB's, 1 Common Gull, 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, a few Swallows and Linnets. PRD/RJ/DC/MR.

 

Thurs 1st Sept 22

From the hide: 2 Greylag Geese, 87 Teal, 2 Shelduck, 11 Curlew (on marsh), 8 Lapwing, 1 Little Stint, 1 Ruff, 75 Blk. H Gulls, 4 Herring Gulls, 3 LBB's, 1 Common Gull, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Kestrel.

A juv. Willow Warbler was in the hide bushes as I left the hide, another Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat and a Blackcap were in the carpark bushes around the burnt area and the Pied Flycatcher reported earlier was seen briefly.

 

Richard Jeffree

08:28 Little Stint on the scrape.