Mon 31st Oct 22
Reports from today:
Mike O'Hanlon
10:16 Lesser Redpoll, I think, at Holland Haven Marshes? Opposite where Simon and Pat are ringing.
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| Photo Mike O'Hanlon© |
Sun 30th Oct 22
A very wet start to the day, a stop at the layby showed just 5 Brent in with 154 Greylag on the arable, but as it was still raining Richard and I had an hour seawatch from the shelter, later joined by a very wet PL.
Not a lot on the move, 11 Brent, 4 Common Scoter, 2 Grey Plover, 6 Knot, 1 Gannet, 8 Lapwing all south, plus quite a lot of waders a bit further out with no positive ID's PL/RJ/MR
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
07:27 Fem/imm Black Redstart on seawall between raised tee and whalings beach huts (in haven boundary).
08:07 Dartford Warbler with 2 Stonechat (and a very annoyed wren) from northern pill box (footpath across gc meets seawall). Calling occasionally but challenging to see in the wind.
Matt Lonsdale
Late afternoon wander along seawall produced 2 Purp Sands, 3 Rock Pipit, Med Gull, a Common Scoter S along with steady passage of Brents and a group of Chaffinch in/off. No sign of Dartford but very windy.
Sat 29th Oct 22
Simon had a nice Firecrest during a ringing session in the Badger Sett this morning (see Ringing page) + 8 Goldcrests.
I managed 2 Goldcrests with the tit flock in the greensward hedge near the pylon, otherwise quiet.
From the pillbox: 7 Brent Geese with 148 Greylag on the arable, 5 Mute Swans, 38 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 1 Wigeon, 1 Grey Heron on the scrape and 3 Buzzards and 1 Kestrel over the marsh.
Fri 28th Oct 22
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
08:26 At least one Bearded Tit (female) in seawall reeds between gc footpath and raised tee.
09:11 Other haven area totals of note from light vismig - 27 Redpoll, 4 Siskin plus a good movement of Rock Pipit with 17 including a group of 12 briefly on the rocks by the raised tee before continuing south. Six Stonechats along the seawall north of the raised tee included a superb male in surprisingly bright plumage.
Thurs 27th Oct 22
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
18:58 Frinton-farm-gc-seawall loop sunset to dark. 65 Skylark in fields north of farm, Little Owl back hedge by gc workshop. Brian may have more as his walk (in reverse) will have been in more daylight!
Brian Combes
19:44 I also finished in the dark! In addition to Paul’s records: 2 Cetti’s (singing), 2 Stonechat (pair on golf course), 7 Starling (in off), 2 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing, 1 Buzzard, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Goldcrest (farm)
Wed 26th Oct 22
Richard and I spent an hour along the approach road this morning, the high point was definitely two Firecrests that showed well for a short while at close range. They were loosely attached to a tit flock that also held 4+ Goldcrest, otherwise a Cetti's Warbler at the Dipping Pond was about it.
From the hide: c130 Greylag, 38 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 41 Lapwing, 20 Blk. H Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 2 Common Gull, + 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Water Rail heard only. RJ/MR.
Reports from today:
Richard Jeffree
14:04 Two Firecrest still Haven approach rd. Stunning!
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| Photo Richard Jeffree© |
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| Photo Richard Jeffree© |
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| Photo Richard Jeffree© |
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| Photo Richard Jeffree© |
Tues 25th Oct 22
Another late start for me today and nothing of note around the bushes, thankfully Simon had the nets open in the reedbed (see Ringing page) and I was able to see a couple of Lesser Redpolls in the hand, always a pleasure, such super little birds.
From the hide: 135 Greylags, 26 Teal, 16 Shoveler, 45 Lapwing, 20 Blk. H Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel + Cetti's & Water Rail heard only PRD/MR
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Sun 23rd Oct 22
Reports from today:
Laurence Drumond
07:32 2 R B Merg south, haven shelter.
07:39 Red T Diver north.
Richard Jeffree
10:26 2 Firecrest approach road.
Pete Loud
13:26 Vis mig was just about non existent today with the wind moving to SE. Around the bushes all the Chiffs have gone but 8+ Goldcrest and the 2 Firecrest remained. 2 Swallow. Seawatching produced 16 Gannet, 4 Red T Diver and 15 Brent. Kingfisher and Stonechat from the wooden hide, where Richard and I had to shelter for half hour from the storm.
Sat 22nd Oct 22
Reports from today:
Matt Lonsdale
07:56 Yellowhammer out of badger sett and south.
08:08 2 Brambling south now. Steady passage of stuff south.
09:37 Woodlark south with Skylark.
10:12 Sibe Chiff still badger sett c10am. Seems to be doing circuit now.
13:50 Superb morning at Holland Haven with a haven ✅ for all 5 observes who got the Woodlark!. Additional a Siberian Chiffchaff in the badger sett added another bit of quality.
In addition on vismig 4 Tree Sparrow, 3 Brambling, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Yellowhammer, 2 Fieldfare, 1 House Martin, 1 Swallow, 8 Redwing, a Grey Wag and a decent passage of Skylark, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet and Chaffinch. 2 Chiffchaff in bushes, 6+ Goldcrest. 2 Marsh Harrier over the marsh.
Paul Brayshaw
08:45 Ring Ouzel just dropped into trees behind gc workshops with some Fieldfare
08:52 Lapland Bunting south past raised tee calling.
16:35 Some haven area vis-mig totals to add from this morning (made it to the raised tee a bit earlier today!). All southbound - 31 Alba Wag, 35 Chaffinch, 843 Goldfinch, 103 Linnet, 65 Siskin, 7 Blackbird, 4 Rock Pipit, 5 Redpoll, 63 Skylark, 5 Brambling, 96 Starling, single Heron, Little Egret and Mute Swan, 2 Fieldfare plus Ring Ousel, 2 Swallow, 2 Reed Bunting, Lapland Bunting and a group of 14 high flying Blue Tit. At sea 4 Oyk, Sparrowhawk in off, 6 Lapwing, 17 Brent. Missed the woodlark but v v pleased this has finally made it onto haven lists for those concerned!.
Mike O'Hanlon
14:21 Female Bearded Tit from old wooden hide Holland Haven Marshes.
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| Photo Mike O'Hanlon© |
Fri 21st Oct 22
No sign of yesterdays Yell B Warbler at the Dipping Pond this morning, but a walk through the approach rd. wood with Richard gave views of a couple of Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrest, 1+ Firecrest, 1 Song Thrush, lots of Blackbirds and 1 Sparrowhawk.
From the hide: 62 Greylag, 60 Teal, 75 Lapwing, 10 Blk. H Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard. RJ/MR.
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
08:39 Snow Bunting south passed raised tee. Lost it towards the next pill box so may have stopped.
09:04 Other haven area bits of note -82 Redwing south over gc, small numbers Goldfinch, Linnet, Mipit, Skylark, Chaffinch, 11 Siskin (interestingly went low out to sea, watched through scope until far out). At sea single Merg south, Peregrine and Razor north plus 250+ Cormorant north, few Brent, wigeon etc.
Richard Jeffree
10:36 Firecrest approach rd wood, elusive.
Thurs 20th Oct 22
Richard and I had a late start seawatch between 11:00 & 12:30 listing, 319 Brent, 16 Teal, 1 R B Merganser, 30 Dunlin, 1 Curlew, south, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 G C Grebe, 1 Med Gull north.
Richard added Yellow-browed Warbler to the site year list at lunch time from the Dipping Pond and Pete Davis had a Firecrest in the same area mid afternoon.
Reports from today:
Richard Jeffree
11:29 Dark phase Arctic Skua sat on sea in front of shelter.
13:01 Yellow-browed Warbler dipping pond.
Wed 19th Oct 22
I joined Simon for a seawatch around 09:15 and managed 1087 Brent by 11:00, missed the Razorbill and Gannet but quite a busy session.
A look down from the pillbox showed there was nothing of note on the scrape so I continued sea-watching from that end adding, 486 Brent (1573 overall), 36 Teal, 10 Wigeon, (S) and 3 Gannet (N) by mid-day.
Reports from today:
Simon Cox
11:57 Haven sea watch 0820-1050 partly with MR. Razorbill & Peregrine N, all else S: Brent 1680, Wigeon 59, Pintail 24 (single flock), Teal 1 + duck sp 15, Gannet 1, Commic Tern 1, Arctic Skua 4 (thanks Paul). Failed to see large diver.
Pete Davis
16:48 2 hour seawatch from shelter 2:40-4:40. Dark phase juv Pom Skua close in NE 3.28. 6 Pintail south, c600 Brent, c100 Wigeon, c70 Common Gulls and 3 Gannet.
Tues 18th Oct 22
Simon & Pat started the day well with a Short-eared Owl (NFY) flying along the front in the early morning mist at the start of their ringing session (see Ringing page).
By the time I started it was a beautiful sunny morning with little wind, a walk around the Dell & Approach Rd. was quiet, however the Bottom Hedge of the carpark held at least 5 Chiffchaffs and the Dipping Pond 2 more plus a super close encounter with a Cetti's Warbler. Shortly after a message saying Simon had a Bearded Reedling in the hand had me relocating to the reedbed where I spent the rest of the morning.
Coincidently Peter & Leon flushed a Little Owl from a farm gate on route to a ringing session along the Back Hedge (see Ringing page).
Sun 16th Oct 22
Reports from today:
Pete Loud
13:11 Half decent visible migration this morning all heading south, Goldfinch 400+, Linnet 100+, Chaffinch 4, Skylark 70+, Swallow 9, Meadow Pipit 150+. Around the bushes were 2 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Chiffchaff and a Coal Tit. 5 Stonechat in log pile area.
Paul Brayshaw
19:11 Few notable haven area bits to add to Pete’s as I spent most of the morning on the seawall by the raised tee. 2 Tree Sparrow, two Merlin (male on gc then south, another in off), Parakeet sp, 3 Redpoll, 18 Siskin, a Fieldfare, 4 Golden Plover, a Wheatear, 5 Rock Pipit and a Sandwich Tern, 4 stonechat also around the raised tee plus 4 singing Cetti’s. Combined Frinton/Haven totals for the morning included 189 Mipit, 1123 Goldfinch, 261 Linnet, 172 Skylark, 287 Starling
Sat 15th Oct 22
I managed 6 Chiffchaffs this morning 5 in the Approach Rd, Dipping Pond, Dell area and 1 with a flock of 20+ L T Tits & 5 Blue Tits behind the sluice. 24 Brent heading south and a Purple Sandpiper with 7 Turnstone on the sluice rocks
From the hide: 1 Mute Swan, 80 Teal, 5 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler, 1 Lapwing, 2 Grey Heron, 20 Blk. H Gulls, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 2 Stonechat, 1 Water Rail & 2 Cetti's Warblers (heard only).
Pete Loud
12:33 Not much to report from the Haven this morning, a few small groups of Mippits, Skylarks, Goldfinch and Linnet moving through. 24 Brent south, Rock Pipit, Marsh Harrier, 4 Stonechat. A couple of Chiffchaff in the bushes.
Peter Newton
16.30 - 17.00 Sea watch from the shelter , 3 Wigeon , 4 GBB Gulls , 1 Brent , 1 Peregrine in/off , 1 Harbour Seal.
Fri 14th Oct 22
From the hide: 1 Mute Swan, c60 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 5 Wigeon, 2 Shelduck, 1 Curlew, 18 Blk. H Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 1 Med Gull, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard). EJ/MR
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
09:00 Strayed into the haven boundary watching vismig this am from the raised tee, Haven specific totals including 1 Swallow, 16 Siskin and 2 Redpolls amongst Mipits, Goldfinch (500+ haven), Linnet, Lapwing, Skylark and Pied Wags etc. Plus 4 singing Cetti's along this short section of seawall.
09:07 At least three Bearded Tit in reedbed at the southern end of whalings beach huts - in haven area.
09:10 Make that four (3 male) now flown off south.
Thurs 13th Oct 22
Simon had a good morning in the Badger Sett this morning (see Ringing page) and Peter Newton added Razorbill to the year list from the café.
I managed a few Chiffchaffs and Blackcap around the bushes and a walk to the Frinton end added 4 Stonechat & 4 Robins on the wood pile, 2 Mippit's, a Rock Pipit and 3 Turnstone along the front. A Kingfisher was seen over the scrape on the way out and was on the sluice rocks on my return before heading out to sea, along and back in to the rocks at French point.
Around the scrape: 1 Mute Swan, c60 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 14 Lapwing, 2 Grey Heron, a few Gulls, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher.
Reports from today:
Peter Newton
12:45 Razorbill just off shore , behind rocks in front of cafe .
Tues 11th Oct 22
A very short visit but all much the same, a few chiffchaff around the bushes and 9 Turnstone on the beach.
From the hide: 16 Greylag, c75 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, c75 Lapwing, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard only), 1 Stonechat, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, plus 3+ Stonechat on the wood pile.
Mon 10th Oct 22
From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 70+ Teal, 6 Shoveler, 4 Mallard, 2 Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, 70+ Lapwing, 3 Blk T Godwits (over), 1 Curlew, 30 Blk H Gulls, 4 Herring Gulls, 5 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. DC/MR.
Reports from today:
Brian Combes
20:30 Frinton/seawall/farm circuit this evening: 1 Cetti’s (singing), 1 Grey Plover (in off), 3 Brent (on the sea), 2 Goldcrest (with tit flock western edge of golf course), 2 Hare, 3+ Stonechat (golf course), 2 Whinchat (golf course, west of dump, mainly distant but came close to dump at one point - presumably the birds I saw last Thursday).
Sun 9th Oct 22
Reports from today:
Pete Loud
12:13 An Egyptian Goose on the Scrape was the best of a quiet morning, a Haven year tick for both Richard and I. Other bits were 10 Stonechat by log pile, 1 late Sand Martin, 3 Swallows, a few Mippits and Skylarks through, small numbers of Goldfinch through, 6 Turnstone and a Dunlin on the beach, 2 Goldcrest in the bushes.
Sat 8th Oct 22
Reports from today:
Richard Jeffree
09:29 5 Spoonbill south haven.
Matt Lonsdale
11:20 Vismig this morning 08:20-10:20. All south. 5 Spoonbills (@09:28), 448 Goldfinch, 163 Linnets, 167 Mipits, 3 Alba Wag, 3 Grey Wag, 18 Skylark, 49 House Martin, 7 Swallow, 6 Chaffinch, 7 Reed Bunt. 1 Buzzard and 4 Teal in/off. Coal tit (feeding station), Snipe on scrape, 5 Stonechats, 20+ Greenfinch on Gc. GT. S Woodpecker, few Chiffs and Goldcrest bushes.
Thurs 6th Oct 22
Reports from today:
Simon Cox
Steady passage of M Pipits, estimate 150-200, Wheatear on track by wooden hide. (see Ringing page).
Brian Combes
20:06 Frinton/seawall/farm circuit this evening: 2 Whinchat (golf course near dump), 2+ Stonechat (golf course dump), 2 Curlew, 2 Cetti’s (singing), 1 Buzzard, 1 Chiff (farm), 1 Goldcrest (farm), 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (farm).
Mon 3rd Oct 22
Simon & Pat added a new bird to the site year list with a Lesser Redpoll from the mist nets during this mornings ringing session. (see Ringing page).
Reports from today:
Matt Lonsdale
08:07 Monster push of House Martin N.
11:31 Superb morning at The Haven. Highlights obviously the House Martins, 1150 N before in excess of 5k South an amazing spectacle. Also 9 Grey Wags, 13 Reed Bunt, 3 Lesser Redpoll, 30 Skylark, couple of hundred Mipits and Bearded Tit (heard but not seen).
In the bushes- continental type Coal Tit (couldn’t quite nail it), 30+ Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 2 Redwing, 7 Song Thrush. House Sparrow in bramble nest to pillbox and Sandwich Tern offshore. 3 juv Ruff on scrape.
Sun 2nd Oct 22
Reports from today:
Paul Brayshaw
07:09 Gc area from first light to 7am c25 Chaffinch, 12 Song Thrush, a Grey Wag, 8 Chiff, 3 Curlew and Barwit. Chiffs seemingly dropping in along the front as I type.
Pete Loud
15:08 All about the vis mig this morning, good numbers of Goldfinch and lesser so Linnet. Also heading south small numbers of Reed Bunting, Skylark & Meadow pipit. Lots of House Martin south with quite a few Swallow later. 8 Grey Wagtail seen. From the Hide, 1 Med Gull, 1 Snipe, 130 Teal, 25 Wigeon, 3 Golden Plover, 3 Curlew, Kingfisher and Cetti’s. 1 Barwit south offshore. 4 Stonechat by log pile. A few Chiffs and a couple of Goldcrest around the bushes.
Matt Lonsdale
16:09 Excellent mornings vis-mig limited by football 08:10-09-10.
460 Goldfinch, 332 Linnet, 163 Mipit, 21 Chaffinch, 82 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin, 35 Swallow, 13 Reed Bunt, 28 Skylark, 4 Grey Wag, 1 Brambling, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Barwit. Loads of Chiffs about as well seemingly arriving in/off and moving through.
