Fri 31st Mar 23

A late start for me today after the early rain, I joined Richard & Dave at the shelter but it was very quiet by then just a few R T Divers and a couple of Cormorants.

Steve Grimwade and Matt (the memory man) Turner had Fulmar and a Common Scoter from the shelter earlier plus 7 Purple Sands & 11 Turnstone along the front.

From the hide things were much the same as of late, but of note the Bearded Tit was heard a couple of times by SG. SC/DC/RJ/SG/MT/MR.

Reports from today

Simon Cox

20:15 Green Woodpecker on golf-course this am.

Steve Grimwade

20:18 With Matt Turner this morning: 7 Fulmar (4 n 3 s), 7 Purple Sands, 6 Gannet, 9 R T Diver, Common Scoter and 2 Med Gulls.

At the end of March the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 109.

 

Thurs 30th Mar 23

At last I managed to tick off Coal Tit at the farm this morning (with a bit of help from Richard), but otherwise just a good number of Linnets still on the set-aside plus Skylarks and a few Goldfinch, Chaffinch, House Sparrow and mixed Tits on the feeders.

 A walk along the brook from the humpback bridge did get Richard a year tick with a Red Kite drifting along the brook from Fan Bridge before heading out toward Gt Clacton.

Just the normal stuff along the Approach Rd and the Dell incl. 3+ Chiffchaff, but the Café was now open for the summer, and a short seawatch added just a cup of coffee.

From the hide:  4 Canada Geese, c40 Teal, 35 Wigeon, 12 Shelduck, 12 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 10 Lapwing, 9 Curlew, 5 Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin, 60 Blk H Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 2 LBB Gulls. RJ/MR

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

16:04 Sand Martin SW over GC.

 

Wed 29th Mar 23

A much nicer feel to today although still a chill in the wind, lots of bird song with a Song Thrush singing in the Dell and 4+ Chiffchaffs around the Badger Sett area, a female Wheatear was on the Boating Club rocks on the way to the hide. RJ/MR

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, c40 Teal, c30 Wigeon, 13 Shelduck, 12 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 12 Lapwing, 9 Curlew, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Avocet, 40 Blk H Gulls, 2 LBB, 2 Med Gulls. PRD/RJ/MR

6 Purple Sands were on the sluice rocks as I returned to the car and Pete and Richard had a pair of  Wheatear near French Point.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

 

Tues 28th Mar 23

No reports received so far.

 

Mon 27th Mar 23

So nice to see some sunshine this morning, a Chiffchaff was singing in the Badger Set and 6 Buzzard drifted over the carpark, otherwise quiet. 

Liz Huxley had 2 Purple Sands along the front and two Song Thrush were singing behind the sluice

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, 2 Egyptian Geese (late morning), c80 Wigeon, c60 Teal, 20 Shoveler, 10 Mallard, 8 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 11 Avocet, 9 Curlew, 5 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, c60 Blk H Gulls, 6 Herring, 4 Med, 2 LBB and 1 Common Gull, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, plus the Water Vole, PNt/DC/RJ/MR/LH et.al.

 

Sun 26th Mar 23

Paul Brayshaw

10:57 Northern end of gc to raised tee - 4 Med Gulls, 2 singing Cetti's, cracking male Yellow Wag and a Rock Pipit.  C20 Chaffinches gives hope for more movement tomorrow am.

Pete Loud

12:19 Very wet morning, only place to be apart from home, was hide or shelter. From shelter, 4 Red throats, 2 Brent & 3 Shoveler. From Hide, 30 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 40 Teal, 40 Wigeon, 10 Shelduck, 1 Avocet, 1 Dunlin, 2 Curlew, 4 Redshank and singing Cetti’s. (RJ, PL).

 

Sat 25th Mar 23

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, c60 Wigeon, c30 Teal, 28 Shoveler, 10 Mallard, 8 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 9 Lapwing, 8 Curlew, 7 Redshank, c60 Blk H Gulls, 7 Med Gulls, 2 Common Gulls, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel. Plus Water Vole and Chinese Water Deer. PL/RJ/MR

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

08:04 Brambling south.

Pete Loud

09:40 1st year Spoonbill just flown south low over the car park and over the entrance road.

 

Fri 24th Mar 23

The whole Haven site is very exposed to the constant wind, and again today it was very quiet.

Dave and I started off at the farm with just a few Linnet, Chaffinch, Skylark and Tits plus a Mistle Thrush calling from the wood.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, c80 Wigeon, c60 Teal, 18 Shoveler, 9 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall, 14 Lapwing, 7 Redshank, 6 Curlew, 3 Avocet, c80 Blk. H Gulls, 5 Med Gulls (3 ad 2 2s), 1 Common Gull. 1 Cetti's Warbler and 1 Moorhen that was helping the Water Vole with the mealworms. PRD/DC/MR

 

Thurs 23 Mar 23

Richard had 3+ Chiffchaffs around the humpback bridge area this morning plus 2 Greenfinch and a few other bits and pieces, otherwise the Approach Rd, The Dell & the Carpark Bushes were very quiet.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, 140 Wigeon, 88 Teal, 26 Shoveler, 10 Mallard, 10 Shelduck, 2 Pintail, 2 Gadwall, 10 Lapwing, 7 Redshank, 3 Oystercatcher, 100+ Blk. H Gulls, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel.

 

Wed 22nd Mar 23

Started at the farm this morning in a very brisk wind, still a large flock of Linnets with a few Skylark and Chaffinch, 2 Mistle Thrush in the far paddocks and a Peregrine upsetting things over the golf course. RJ/MR

The B1032 was closed again this morning so it was a bit of a trip to get to the site.

The approach road and bushes were very quiet again so after a message re a Pintail on the scrape we headed for the hide.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, c100 Wigeon, 40+ Teal, 30 Shoveler, 10 Mallard, 8 Shelduck, 2 Pintail (a pair), 12 Lapwing, 5 Redshank, 5 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Cormorant, 110 Blk H Gulls, 3 Herring Gulls, 3 Med Gulls, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush. PRD/RJ/MR

 

Tues 21st Mar 23

Lots of singing Chaffinches this morning otherwise quite quiet around the bushes, 3 Turnstone were on the sluice and around 80 Wigeon sitting offshore, a few Mippits, Skylark and Reed Bunting along the front.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, c100 Wigeon, c60 Teal, 32 Shoveler, 10 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 12 Lapwing, 6 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, c100 Blk H Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 L T Tits, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard only), 2 Kestrel. 

Reports from today:

Mike O'Hanlon

15:25 Chiffchaff seen at the Farm pond and Corn Bunting heard on the fields below.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Pete Loud

18:27 After an early finish today I walked the seawall Gt Holland footpath loop this afternoon. Chiffchaff sewage farm hedge along the brook. Scrape, 1 Curlew, 2 Redshank, 13 Shelduck, 25 Shoveler, 60 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 2 Gadwall. Large flock of Chaffinch in seeded field south of Donkey paddocks 200+. 1 Stonechat & pair of Med Gulls on the Golf Course.

 

Mon 20th Mar 23

I arrived at the farm just as Dave Cummings located a cracking pair of Yellowhammers on the hedge alongside the first paddocks, great to see the pair together perhaps it really is Spring.

Also of note was a single Corn Bunting in the last tree at the end of the far paddocks.

A bit of a Detour to get to the Country Park as the B1032 is closed across the marshes for a couple of days.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, 2 Greylags, c100 Wigeon, c60 Teal, 30 Shoveler, 8 Mallard, 7 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 10 Lapwing, 5 Curlew, 4 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Wren. Plus the Water Vole. PNt/DC/MR

 

Sun 19th Mar 23

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

09:32 Busy morning @ haven. 4 Chiffchaff (2 mounds, 1 sewage works, 1 raised platform), Firecrest heard (behind raised platform), 9 Siskin (perched breifly 5 bar gate then N), 2 Med Gull, Redwing (in/off), 4 Purp Sands (French point), Rock Pipit. Few Pied Wags and lots of corvids coasting + in/ off.

Pete Loud

12:13 Not bad at the Haven this morning. 20 Redwing flew out of the car park bushes and 1 Chiff behind raised platform.2 more Chiffs by sewage work’s entrance and another 2 plus a Firecrest in the hedge bordering the brook behind the sliuce. Another Redwing just north of French point and 4 Purple Sands on the rocks. 2 Dunlin flew south offshore plus 1 Red throat and 9 Brent. Adult Med Gull over and a Red Kite drifting south from the farm. Scrape held all the usual Wigeon Teal and Shoveler, but the Avocets have left for the time being as the water level is too high at the present time.

 

Sat 18th Mar 23

Another very wet morning so after a very quiet walk to the boardwalk and back it was good to get out of the rain in the hide. 

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, c150 Wigeon, c70 Teal, 24 Shoveler, 11 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 18 Avocet, 12 Curlew, 5 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Water Rail, 1 Common Gull, and a few Blk Headed Gulls. Plus a Red Fox (PNt) and the Water Vole. PRD/PNt/RJ/MR

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

16:52 Not much to report this afternoon around site. Still a 100+ flock of Linnet at the farm. 10 Turnstone on the sluice. 50 Brent north and 200 Wigeon resting on the sea well offshore. On the Scrape,15 Avocet, 2 Redshank, 25 Wigeon, 60 Teal,14 Shoveler, 8 Shelduck.

 

Fri 17th Mar 23

A very wet morning meant the hide was the only place to be.

From the hide: 7 Canada Geese, c150 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 18 Shoveler, 13 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 13 Snipe, 7 Avocet, 7 Lapwing, 1 Curlew, 1 Marsh Harrier (around for most of the morning), 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and a few gulls. Also 2 Chinese Water Deer and Water Vole (see Haven Wildlife page). DC/RJ/MR

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

15:51 Male Wheatear seawall between sluice and French pt also Barn Owl.

16:11 6 Purple Sandpiper by 3rd pillbox.

Matt Lonsdale

18:33 Male Wheatear still at north end of H haven bay early evening.

 

Thurs 16th Mar 23

Not a bad morning weather wise but still a chilly breeze. 8 Mute Swans were seen from the chippings lay-by but not much else.

Richard and I had 8 Turnstone fly along the front and land on the boating club rocks on the way to the hide.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, 130 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 24 Shoveler, 8 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 20 Lapwing, 10 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank, 70 Blk H Gulls, 5 Herring, 1 LBB Gull, 20 Stock Doves, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Reed Bunting. 1 Water Vole. RJ/MR

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

14:50  Coal Tit at the farm/church.

 

Wed 15th Mar 23

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

10:54 More like spring on the scrape this morning, 23 Avocets lots of B H Gulls, 1 2nd summer Med Gull, 2 Snipe and the ringed fem Beardie.

 

Tues 14th Mar 23

Just a hint of spring in the air this morning, after the rain and a few birds making themselves herd 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Reed Buntings a singing Cetti's Warbler and a calling Water Rail in front of the hide. A Barn Owl about for most of the morning before retiring to the second owl box and 2 cracking Med Gulls that dropped in late on made for a much better morning.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, c150 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 20 Shoveler, 12 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 12 Lapwing, 4 Curlew, 4 Mippits, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Cetti's Warbler & 1 Water Rail (heard only), 1 Barn Owl, 1 Kestrel. Plus the Water Vole.

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

15:57 Sand Martin south past sluice.

17:55 Highlights from haven this afternoon - Proper winter/ summer mix. 

6 Purple Sands + Turnstone near French point, Rock Pipit (coming into sum plum on seawall near Gc footpath). 3 Redwing in car park, Goldcrest on approach road. + the Sand Martin heading back south (can’t blame it 😭).

 

Mon 13th Mar 23

Very windy this morning, but much warmer, just waiting for a nice calm spring morning.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, c200 Wigeon & 100 Teal (split between the the scrape and below the raised platform), 18 Shoveler, 10 Mallard, 8 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 6 Lapwing, 4 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 56 Blk H Gulls, 3 Herring Gulls and the Water Vole.

 

Sun 12th Mar 23

No reports received so far:

 

 

Sat 11th Mar 23

Very quick visit today before WeBS count was timed perfectly as 6 Purple Sands dropped onto the rocks as I got to the sluice, things around the scrape were much the same and the Water Vole put on another good performance.

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

10:30 Firecrest. Approach road

16:34 Nice morning at haven today - Classic Holland haven sign of spring with 2 Firecrest on approach road. Grey Wag, sewage farm. Max of 9 Buzzards up at once for me, lots of RT Divers offshore.

 

Fri 10th Mar 23

After a very wet and windy morning, the midday sunshine (and a message reporting Auks passing Frinton) temped me out for a seawatch, I was joined after a few minutes by Richard.

No sign of any auks but c40 R T Divers were sitting on the sea or moving north as were 22 Cormorants and 1 Cormorant and 2 Oystercatchers headed south.

2 Sanderling were on the beach south of the boating club, (Haven year ticks for both of us) on the way to the hide.

From the hide: 2 Greylags, 2 Canada Geese, c60 Wigeon, c20 Teal, 4 Mallard, 4 Shoveler, 3 Shelduck, 18 Lapwing, 16 Curlew, 1 Avocet, 45 Blk H Gulls, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Kestrel  RJ/MR

 

Thurs 9th Mar 23

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

12:49 Started short visit to the farm paddocks G S Woodpecker on the feeder adj. Church, 2 Greens, 2 Mistle Thrush + the Fieldfare flock also large flock of Linnet's, Goldie's and skylarks on the former maze set aside, on the seawall there were just 6 Purple Sands and a Rock Pipit

Mike O'Hanlon

14:05 Just watched a Fulmar gliding north and close from HH sluice. So far have seen a Green woody, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Gulls, 3 Curlew plus a flock of 300 Starlings on Golf course.

16:04  Finished the Frinton to the Haven loop with 3 spread out Purple Sandpipers between the sluice and French Point. Too much rain to see anything else!

 

Wed 8th Mar 23

A cold and wet morning didn't hold much promise, so when I met Richard on his way back from the hide and a single Avocet was his bird of the day we decided to have half an hour looking out to sea. Things started well with a single Com. Scoter heading north (a year tick for us both) but the next 30 mins added just 2 R T Diver and a Cormorant north and 4 more Com. Scoter south before we succumbed to the cold.

Things were a bit better for Steve Grimwade in the afternoon with Sanderling taking the site Year List to 99, what will no.100 be?

Reports from today:

Steve Grimwade

17:02 8 Purple Sands just south of French Point this afternoon (poss a 9th seen briefly) 2 Dunlin flew north and single Sanderling south of sluice.

 

Tues 7th Mar 23

Started at the farm this morning in light drizzle, a walk around the paddocks gave 1 Gt. Spotted & 2 Green Woodpeckers, 14 Fieldfare, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Gt. Tit, Blue Tit & L T Tits, Mistle Thrush, Linnet, Skylark, Blackbird, Buzzard & Kestrel.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, c60 Wigeon, c30 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 4 Mallard, 4 Shelduck, 40 Lapwing, 11 Curlew, c70 Blk. H Gulls, 10 Herring Gulls. Lots more gulls and ducks on the marsh below the raised platform.

 

Mon 6th Mar 23

Shortly after arriving on site it started to rain so Dave and I headed for the hide, a single R T Diver was noted sitting on the sea along with a raft of Wigeon and a few gulls on the way.

Things were very quiet but two Dunlin on the back of the scrape were a site year tick, unfortunately they flew out a couple of minutes later.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, 3 Brent, c20 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 6 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 13 Curlew, 2 Dunlin, 2 Oystercatcher, 40+ Herring Gulls and a few Blk Headed Gulls. DC/MR 

Reports from today:

Dave Cummings

08:59 12 Fieldfare in farm paddocks.

 

Sun 5th Mar 23

I had an hour at the farm this morning and finally tracked down a Corn Bunting, also 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush, 10+ Blackbird, Gt. Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Chaffinch, Linnet, Skylark, Goldfinch, Etc.

From the hide: 4 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, c80 Wigeon, 20 Teal,16 Shoveler, 6 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 68 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Avocet, 1 Curlew, 1 Kestrel. MR

4 Purple Sands were seen near French Point by visitors 

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

13:22 

Very short visit this morning, too cold for me and the birds it seems. Adult Gannet north was a year tick for me, 60+ Red throats got off the sea and headed north. 80 Wigeon were on the marsh over the road. Scrape, 2 Avocet, 2 Canada’s, several Shoveler and a few Teal.

Matt Lonsdale

14:47 Redwing, 11 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush in farm paddocks

14:51 Drumming gsw also.

 

Sat 4th Mar 23

No sign of any of the swans from the chippings lay-by this morning, 1 Lt Grebe was on the brook and c100 Wigeon, c60 Greylags and lots of gulls and corvids out on the marsh plus 6 Purple Sands on the sluice.

From the hide: c60 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 4 Mallard, 4 Shelduck, 30 Lapwing, 6 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Pied & 1 Grey Wagtail, plus the Water Vole. PNt/RJ/ML/MR et.al.  

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

12:44 Farm/seawall loop this morning.  Great spotted Woodpeckers drumming, 2 Corn Bunting singing, Mistle Thrush, several Red throats fishing just offshore.  Over the road the Whooper Swans do seem to have moved on, 1 Stonechat and 20 Curlew were on the  marsh.

Richard Jeffree

16:24 Barn Owl hunting near boardwalk also 3 Stonechat.

 

Fri 3rd Mar 23

No sign of the Whooper Swans this morning, after being with us for nearly nine week have they moved on or just having an away day?. 11 Mute Swans were still there and out on the marsh were c60 Greylags, 1 Canada Goose, 2 Grey Heron, c100 Wigeon and lots of corvids.

6 Purple Sands were on the sluice on the way to the hide.

From the hide: 6 Brent Geese, 4 Canada Geese, c80 Wigeon, c30 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 4 Shelduck, 4 Mallard, 18 Lapwing, 5 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and the Water Vole.

A walk to French Point added just 1 Oystercatcher on the rocks and the Purples had moved onto the seawall beside the sluice. RJ/MR et.al.

 

Thurs 2nd Mar 23

A quick visit to the hide to feed the Water Vole found things much the same as of late, Wigeon & Teal, 8 Shoveler, 6 Mallard, 4 Shelduck, 20 Lapwing, 4 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, at least the Vole showed well to make things worthwhile. PNt/MR

 

Wed 1st Mar 23

I spent a couple of hours at the farm this morning and finally managed to get Gt. Spotted Woodpecker on my year list. Other than that much the same to start the new month.

The Whoopers were still in the beet field with 9 Mute Swans.