Sat 31st Dec 22

Matt had a Firecrest along the approach rd. this morning, lets hope it's still there in the morning.

from the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 2 Greylag, c200 Wigeon, c 100 Teal, 16 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 2 Avocet, 2 Snipe, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. PRD/ML/MR

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

09:46 Firecrest still with us on approach road.

At the end of December the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 183.

 

Fri 30th Dec 22

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

10:46 Pale bellied Brent with c800-1k Brents on arable between farm and Gc outbuilding. Viewing conditions tricky.

Mike O'Hanlon

13:21 Single Purple Sandpiper on beach left of the sluice.

13:33 Single Avocet on the scrape.

 

Thurs 29th Dec 22

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

14:32 Probably last visit before New Year’s Day. Male Stonechat chippings lay by with another by the boardwalk. Goldcrest car park bushes. On the Scrape, 11 Shoveler, 2 Avocet, 7 Curlew and plenty of Wigeon & Teal. Peregrine up on the arable, briefly joined by a second bird. Rock Pipit along the front. Purple Sandpiper and Oystercatcher by the Sluice. (PD,RJ,PL).

 

Wed 28th Dec 22

No reports received so far:

 

Tues 27th Dec 22

I had a short visit to the site this morning for a breath of air but it was very quiet all round, 2 Purple Sands and a Turnstone on the rocks south of French Point, a Stonechat and a few Mippits along the front. A juv Brent Goose was sitting on the sea north of French Point and 3 others headed south. On the scrape were 20 Greylags, several Teal, a few Wigeon and Shoveler, 2 Avocet and a few Gulls + a large Brent flock was on the arable toward the Tennis club, 2 Kestrel and a Buzzard were also seen. RJ/MR

 

Mon 26th Dec 22

No reports received so far:

 

Sun 25th Dec 22

No reports received today 🎄"It's Christmas"🎄

 

Sat 24th Dec 22

Quiet around the bushes this morning, just a lot of Blackbirds along the approach road. Offshore were 20+ R T Divers and at least 3 Gt. C Grebes sitting on the sea with just a few Cormorant on the move.

From the hide: Scrape, 6 Greylags, c200 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 4 Avocet, 4 Blk H Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, 1 Lt. Egret. The Brent were again on the arable toward the Tennis club and two Muntjac Deer were also noted. A walk to French Point added just 2 Stonechat, a few Meadow Pipits and a Wren. RJ/MR

Reports from today:

Liz Huxley

11:50 4 Avocet on Scrape; 1 Bearded Tit briefly reeds in front of hide.  Also 1 Stonechat; 1 Purple Sand.

A very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you all 

 

Fri 23rd Dec 22

A very wet start to today, but I wasn't the only one to venture out for a few minutes.

Dave and Richard reported little change on the scrape but at least it was dry in the hide and I had a short look out to sea which did give three groups of Cormorant totalling 207 (80-120-7), 1 Com. Scoter heading north and a dozen or so R T Divers sitting on the sea before it was home time.

 

Thurs 22nd Dec 22

No reports received so far:

 

Weds 21st Dec 22

Very high water level on the marsh at the moment but not so many birds, probably lots of new places to feed, 4 Avocet were nice to see on the scrape.

From the hide: 64 Teal, 16 Wigeon (more below raised platform but difficult to see), 7 Shoveler, 4 Avocet, c80 Brent (between Tennis and Golf clubs), lots of Corvids (on arable), 2 Kestrel.

Offshore: 40+ Cormorants were heading north first thing, c12 Red-throated Divers sitting on the sea and a few more flying around and a single Turnstone was on the sluice. RJ/MR

 

Tues 20th Dec 22

Like a summers day today, crazy weather!

From the hide: 200+ Teal, Wigeon (below Raised Platform), 5 Shoveler, 1 Lt. Egret, c80 Lapwing (on the arable), 3 Curlew (over), 100+ Brent (between golf course & tennis club), 2 Kestrel.

A 5min stop at the Sluice showed a good movement of R T Divers with 20+ heading south and 6 sitting on the sea + 1 Oystercatcher on the rocks and a Turnstone on the beach.

1 Grey Heron and 100+ mixed Gulls were on the flooded marsh alongside the entrance road. MR.

Reports from today:

Brian Combes

16:52 Late afternoon walk from Frinton to French Point and back via farm: 1 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 114 Brent, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1 Stonechat, 17 Curlew, 6 Blackbird, 1 Fox.

 

Mon 19th Dec 22

Not quite sure which is best, freezing cold or wet and windy but at least the scrape has thawed and the ducks were back.

From the hide: 346 Teal, 100+ Wigeon, 8 Mallard, 4+ Shoveler, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Lt. Egrets, 1 Cetti's Warbler & 1 Water Rail (heard only). Lots of Lapwing up on the arable with a Golden Plover flock behind the golf course. PRD/DC/MR

A single R T Diver headed south on my way back to the car.

 

Sun 18th Dec 22

A short seawatch this morning with Pete Davis showed that there was some movement of Lapwing with 85 noted in about an hour mostly in off the sea, plus 4 Shelduck, 15 Golden Plover, (south) and 3 R T Diver (1 south, 2 north). PRD/MR

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

14:05 Walk to the Frinton Beach Huts and back.100+ Golden Plover on grazing marsh, 3 groups of Lapwing in off totalling about 150. 1 Stonechat, Water Rail flew from base of seawall into the reeds. 2 Sanderling, 5 Turnstone and Oystercatcher on the beach. Female Bearded Tit in reeds north end of wooden hide Reed bed. Woodcock again flushed from behind the raised Platform. A Few Red throated Divers moving offshore. (RJ,PL).

 

Sat 17th Dec 22

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

12:45 Long walk from carpark to farm and back along seawall. 80 Curlew up on the arable with 100+ Golden Plover, 300 Brent, 150+ Skylark. 1 Fieldfare back of Golf Course. Grey Wagtail flew over Sewage Farm and a rare view of a Woodcock on the ground as it walked across the track behind the raised platform.

Fri 16th Dec 22

 No reports received so far:

 

 

Thurs 15th Dec 22

Richard Jeffree

09:55 1 Sanderling, 1 Purple Sand, 3 Turnstone + a Rock Pipit at the sluice.

Brian Combes

17:25 Frinton to French Point along seawall and back via farm, late afternoon, included: 2 Woodcock (flushed from golf course), 2 Purple Sandpiper (seawall east of golf course dump), 1 Water Rail (squealing from reeds adjacent to golf course), 1 Little Owl (in trees where public footpath leaves the golf course), 1 Red-throated Diver (north), 2 Stonechat, 44 Golden Plover (fields south of golf course), 47 Lapwing (fields south of golf course), 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Curlew, 1 Redwing, 2 Hare, 1 Fox, 8 Snipe, 9 Blackbird, 2 Green Woodpecker.

 

Wed 14th Dec 22

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

13:40 Haven this morning Firecrest approach rd. 3 Turnstone sluice 200+ Golden Plover grazing marsh, Woodcock flushed. 

 

Tues 13th Dec 22

No reports received so far:

 

 

Mon 12th Dec 22

Cold and bright again this morning with a bit of an onshore breeze but very quiet offshore, 1 Cormorant and 1 Oystercatcher heading north for me, a R T Diver (N) and 2 Stonechat along the front for Dave Cummings on a walk to the raised tee a bit earlier.

20+ Golden Plover on the arable behind the golf course plus 10 Lapwing and 10 Curlew on the marsh to the north of the frozen scrape was about it.

A walk through the carpark bushes gave a few Tits, half a dozen Redwing and a Song Thrush, but bird of the day was a Woodcock flushed from the back of the boating club compound which although it didn't seem to go far couldn't be relocated. DC/MR

 

Sun 11th Dec 22

Pete Loud

12:23 Very cold this morning, -3C first thing everywhere white beautiful sight. Barn Owl was active behind the frozen Scrape, 8 Curlew and 2 Snipe were on the marsh. Quite a number of Lapwing and Golden Plover on the fields behind the Golf Course. Pair of Stonechat Golf Course. Seawall walk, 1 Purple Sand, 3 Turnstone, 2 Redshank and Oystercatcher. Entrance road 1 Redwing and 1 Snipe.

Paul Brayshaw

14:57 Brief foray onto gc - distant Barn Owl, 14 Lapwing and 17 Golden Plover (more of both on fields behind) plus at least 6 Snipe.

 

Sat 10th Dec 22

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

09:56 Sanderling on the beach near sluice.

11:19 180+ Golden Plover in field immediately behind GC workshop.

Simon Cox

14:04 Haven 1030-1315: Greylag 143, Wigeon 7 on sea, Lapwing 50, Golden Plover 30+ from hide, perhaps some of Richard’s flock, Snipe 1, O/catcher 1, Purple Sand 1, Sanderling 1 on beach N of sluice, Song Thrush 1, Firecrest 1 Approach Rd, Linnet 7.

 

Fri 9th Dec 22

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

13:57 Great Northern Diver close inshore from raised tee 13:10 drifted north as I walked and was off bottom of Connaught Ave. about 15 mins ago.

 

Thurs 8th Dec 22

Another bright and chilly morning, a walk to the 3rd pillbox with Richard turned up just 2 Stonechat and 2 Rock Pipits plus a few Cormorants offshore.

From a frozen scrape: 130 Greylag, c30 Wigeon, c20 Teal, 6+ Shoveler, 80+ Lapwing (on arable), 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel.

The carpark bushes were busy with 1 Firecrest, 3+ Goldcrest, lots of Gt. Blue & L T Tits + Robin, Wren, 6 Goldfinch, 6 Redwing. RJ/MR

 

Wed 7th Dec 22

Bright but very chilly out this morning. Very quiet offshore apart from two groups of Golden Plover coming straight in off the sea and heading inland, 40+ for Pete and Richard before I arrived and a further 30 shortly after.

From the hide: c160 Greylag, 60+ Wigeon, 56 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 2 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 53 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 2 Kestrel.

 

Tues 6th Dec 22

Brian had covered most of the site before I got out this morning so I wandered to the hide in the mid morning sunshine.

From the hide: c120 Greylag, 60+ Wigeon, 50+ Teal, 15 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 76 Lapwing & 12 Curlew (on marsh to the north of hide), 1 Snipe, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard.

In the carpark bushes on the way back were 2 Goldcrest, 4 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Wren and lots of Blackbirds.

Reports from today:

Brian Combes

08:25 4 Egyptian Geese on scrape

08:27 Just flew off west

09:28 1 Firecrest western end of approach road though elusive + 3 Fieldfare

09:33 1 Chiff eastern end of approach road

10:45 1 Purple Sandpiper roosting on rocks east of golf course dump

17:38 Frinton to Haven along seawall and back via farm, this morning included: 4 Egyptian Geese, 1 Firecrest, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Little Grebe (in Holland Brook, sluice end), 1 Common Sandpiper (flushed near wooden hide, flew low calling, quickly dropping out of sight), 9 Curlew (3 south, 6 on golf course), 2 Reed Bunting, 7 Pied Wagtail, 110+ Cormorant (north first thing, mainly in one single loose group), 3 Cetti’s Warbler (singing, 2 Haven, 1 golf course), 82 Lapwing, 54 Wigeon, 51 Teal, 9 Shoveler, 21 Blackbird (mainly approach road), 3 Fieldfare (approach road, then flew inland), 5 Goldcrest (2 approach road, 3 by carpark), 3 Song Thrush (approach road), 8 Goldfinch, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5+ Stonechat (probably 7, two pairs northern end of golf course, 1 where footpath leaves the golf course; a pair southern end of golf course were likely to be additional), 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Buzzard, 23 Linnet (fields adjacent to paddocks), 5 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff (approach road), 1 Redwing (approach road).

Photo Brian Combes©

 

Mon 5th Dec 22

A late start for me after the dentists but quiet all round, a short look out to sea gave just 1 Com. Scoter, 1 Shelduck (s) and a Cormorant (n), Pete and Dave had a couple of Gannets earlier.

c80 Greylag were on the marsh north of the hide as were 60+ Lapwing, but duck number were well down. Pete and Dave had some Curlew and a Rock Pipit on a walk to the Frinton end.

Sadly Matt Lonsdale found a dead Peregrine on the beach, hopefully not a sign of things to come.

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

12:23 Unfortunately a dead peregrine on the beach at haven just now. Potentially an AI victim, will ring defra hotline when back. Worth keeping an eye out for any other dead birds in area!

 

Sun 4th Dec 22

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

09:39 Puffin headed north close.

09:58 Skua heading north distant for us but looks like Arctic to me. (later confirmed as Pom. Skua)

12:50 Seawatching again slow at times, but stuck with it. Puffin was a Haven tick for Richard and I, and a long awaited Essex tick for me. 1 Pom Skua, 6 Gannet, 5 Kittiwake, 1 Guillemot, 12 Common Scoter, 7 Red T Diver, 6-700 Cormorant, Peregrine & 3 Mute Swan. As yesterday all heading north, plus 2 Red B Merganser south.

 

Sat 3rd Dec 22

Pete Loud

10:22 Black t Diver close north.

10:59  4 White Fronts, 4 ad,2 juvenile just come in off and over marsh.

11:01 Obviously 6 in total landed on marsh Gt Holland end.

13:26 Not a bad seawatch slow but good variety. 3 Guillemot, 1 Red B Merganser, 7 Common Scoter, 1 Gannet, 1 Black T Diver, 4 Red Throated, 4 Eider, 2 Great C Grebe and the 6 White Fronted Geese. Walk to Raised Tee only added Rock Pipit , 2 Turnstone a decent flock of Brent and 100+Lapwing on the marsh.(RJ,PD,ML,PL).

 

Thurs 1st Dec 22

The two Firecrests showed well along the approach road this morning with a large flock of Blue, Great & L T Tits + a Goldcrest and lots of Blackbirds.

A Purple Sandpiper and 2 Turnstone were around the sluice and 1000-1200 Brent were sitting on the sea off French Point before splitting into feeding flock and moving to the arable.

From the hide: 130 Teal, 46 Wigeon, 14 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, a few Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 1 Stonechat, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. RJ/BH/MR

On the way back to the car 2 Song Thrush were around the TDC compound.

Reports from today:

Matt Turner

08:46 Approaching 1000 Brent on the water off French point.

08:59 Barnacle Goose north, mid distance.