Tues 31st Oct 23

No reports received so far

At the end of October the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 184.

 

Mon 30th Oct 23

Very quiet around the site this morning, a few Goldfinch moving south, 100+ Greylag on the marsh, 2 Brent on Leon's marsh, 2 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler and a Peregrine up on the arable was about it. DW/BH/DC/MR

Reports from today

Dennis Pryor

10:11 One Purple Sandpiper on rocks.

 

Sun 29th Oct 23

Reports from today

Brian Combes

07:25  1 Cattle Egret with cattle west of scrape.

10:53 2 Purple Sand, sea defences south of the raised tee.

16:40 Walk from Frinton to The Haven and back via the farm this morning: 1 Cattle Egret, 2 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper (flew north over scrape), 20 Mipit (6 south), 54 Goldfinch (south), 7 Chaffinch (south), 3 Siskin (south), 2 Redpoll (south), 11 Brent (south), 8 Linnet (south), 6 Skylark (south), 1 Swallow (south), 6 Shoveler, 4 Goldcrest, 50+ Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 4 Cetti’s (singing), 2 Grey Heron, 1 Rock Pipit, 4 Stonechat (2 pairs), 1 Sparrowhawk.

 

Sat 28th Oct 23

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

09:31 Glossy Ibis towards scrape.

Pete Loud

10:09 Glossy Ibis flown high then appeared to come down on the marsh near the humpback bridge at Gt Holland.

11:01 5 Cattle Egret & Egyptian Goose from the Scrape Hide.

13:32 Haven this morning. Highlight was the Glossy Ibis, also 6 Cattle Egret, Egyptian Goose in with 100+ Greylag, 19 Canada and couple of Brent, 5 Shoveler, 100+ Teal & 70+ Wigeon, 2 Snipe  all on the Scrape . 1 Golden Plover, 16 Turnstone, Marsh Harrier, 1 Med Gull, 4 Stonechat, 2 Swallow. Still groups of Goldfinch and couple of Redpoll and Chaffinch moving through early on.

Mike O'Hanlon

16:01 2 Cattle Egrets still to north of HH scrape with cattle.

16:09 4 C E's (incl original 2) flown west over Clacton Rd by hump back bridge.

 

Fri 27th Oct 23

Three Goldcrests and a Greenfinch with the House Sparrow was it around the Dell, a few L T Tits, a Jay and a Sparrowhawk along the approach road, plus a couple of Swallows (over), but otherwise very quiet, 12+ Turnstone were flushed off the beach by what was most likely the same Sparrowhawk.

With the water levels over the marshes dropping, lots more ducks were on the scrape c150 Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 5 Shoveler, 120+ Greylag, 5 Brent and c80 Lapwing (on arable), 2 Avocet, 2 Snipe, 1 Blk. T Godwit, 2 Grey Heron, 14 Cattle Egret and 1 Lt. Egret were with the cattle to the right of the hide PL/RJ/DC/MR

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

10:44 14 Cattle Egrets with cattle to the right of the hide.

Simon Cox

12:20 Light passage early this morning: 25+ Lesser Redpolls, 20+ Meadow Pipits, 1 Swallow.

 

Thurs 26th Oct 23

Reports from today

Pete Loud

15:07 Haven today,13 Cattle Egret on the marsh just north of the Scrape, 2 Purple Sands on rocks by raised Tee, 2 Stonechat. 4 Siskin over. 3 Chiffchaff & 3 Goldcrest in the bushes. Seawatching in the morning 700+ Brent, 250+ Dunlin, 1 Barwit, 3 Curlew, 5 Med Gull, 15+ Gannets, 2 Red thr Diver, 1 Guillemot, 23 Common Scoter, 40 Teal.

 

Wed 25th Oct 23

Another good morning at the Haven, with at least 14 Cattle Egrets from the chippings lay-by on the way to site, plus 1000's of gulls on the flooded marsh, 3 Grey Heron, 8 Pied Wags on the sett-aside and loads of corvids, a Buzzard and a Kestrel.

A Shag was sitting on the sea in front of the Boating Club rocks before flying off S/W down the coast, a single Cattle Egret dropped in to join the cows just north of the hide. Things on the scrape looked much the same with 100+ of Greylags and of Teal, lots of Wigeon and gulls around the flood and c90 Lapwing up on the arable.

After getting Pete's message I hurried to French Point to view our first Black Redstart of the year, showing well around the seawall at the second pillbox.

On our way back a few Brent were moving about offshore, a single juv. was drifting north on the tide and the Cattle Egrets north of the hide numbered five.

Reports from today

Pete Loud

11:07 Black Redstart by pillbox at French Point

Steve Grimwade

14:18 Holland Haven: 16 Cattle Egret North of hide.

 

Tues 24th Oct 23

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

17:35 At least 5 Cattle Egret still over the road at haven.

 

Mon 23rd Oct 23

I stopped off at the humpback bridge on the way to site this morning where at least 6 Cattle Egrets were on the marsh with the cows.

Very quiet offshore first thing with just a few Brent heading south and 3 Com. Scoter north, a couple of Chiffs and Goldcrests was about it and just 2 Turnstone were on the front around the sluice.

From the hide: 110 Greylags, 6 Brent (over), c120 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 2 Cormorants, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Cattle Egret (with cows to right of hide), 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, c100 Lapwing (on the arable) plus hundreds of gulls, lots of wigeon & Mallard around the flooded marsh DW/BH/MR

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

14:22 Counted 9 Cattle Egret but could have been more.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Laurence Drumond

14:22 Drake Velvet Scoter north, close, Haven shelter.

 

Sun 22nd Oct 23

A great morning walk with Pete L, Richard, & Matt, with an egret fest and a super Hen Harrier plus good supporting cast, see report below.

Reports from today

Pete Loud

14:46 Lovely morning out in the Autumn sunshine, what a difference a day makes. Highlights were the 2 Cattle Egret in with their namesakes on the marsh, 2 Great White Egrets, 1st out on the marsh and then off inland, the second south just offshore, and then the female Hen Harrier that flew right past us, landing behind the scrape for a couple of minutes before heading off south. Supporting cast as follows:-1 Purple Sandpiper in with 18 Turnstone, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Little Egret, 12 Shoveler, 1 Med Gull, 100+ Lapwing,  9 Snipe, 1 Curlew, several small groups of Goldfinch south, 6 Siskin, 7 Swallow, 2 Stonechat, 1 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff & 6 Goldcrest.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Simon Cox

11:56 2 Cattle Egrets with Haven cows now.

Paul Brayshaw

16:07 Both Cattle Egret still present with cattle over the road viewed from pull in by bridge over Brook.

16:13 At least three present.

 

Sat 21st Oct 23

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

10:04 Firecrest- wood end of car park.

Pete Loud

13:20 Seawatching this morning was fairly slow going but did manage a few bits. 2 Adult Little Gull, 1 Female Red B Merganser, 3 Common Scoter, 20+ Gannet, 2 Red T Diver, 1 Curlew, 9 Pintail and a few small groups of Brent.

 

Fri 20th Oct 23

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

 16:16 Woodcock in off 3rd pillbox also female Merlin also Green Sand on lake/scrape.

 

Thurs 19th Oct 23

I started the day with a late seawatch 09:45-10:45 noting 22 Wigeon, 13 Pintail, 114 Dunlin, 1 Curlew, all heading south.

3+ Goldcrest were with a large tit flock along the approach road and 2 Purple Sandpipers on the sluice rocks with the gulls.

From the hide: 87 Teal, 47 Wigeon, 7 Mallard, 4 Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, 104 Lapwing, 1 Curlew, 28 Blk H Gulls, 7 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 8+ Swallows, plus lots more lapwing and gulls on the arable. JR/MR.

 

 

Wed 18th Oct 23

Once again I joined Graham and Richard for an hour seawatch from 09:45 which included just 25 Brent, 8 Teal, 2 R T Divers, heading south and 8 Gannet, 8 Cormorant, 2 Common Scoter, 1 G C Grebe heading north.

From the hide: 62 Greylag, 2 Brent, 46 Teal, 39 Wigeon, 5 Shoveler, 6 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 14 Blk H Gulls RJ/MR

Reports from today

Graham Sutton

10:05 Bonxie N HH - dropped on sea straight out from shelter after successfully chasing gull.

 

Tues 17th Oct 23

I joined Simon & LD for an hour seawatch from 09-00  nothing spectacular for me but 223 Brent (s), 15 Gannet (n), 1 Com. Scoter (n), 1 Red T Diver (n) & 6 Kittiwake (3n 3s) was about it.

From the hide: 36 Greylag, 30+ Wigeon, 10 Teal, 1 Curlew, 1 Lapwing (lots up on the arable), 5 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron,14 Blk H Gulls, 14 Herring Gulls, 2 GBB's. 

Reports from today:

Laurence Drumond

07:32 Haven, 3 Gannet north, 2 Scoter and at least 4 Kitts south.

11:37 Morning seawatch at the shelter, Pom. Skua, G N Diver (thanks Paul), lots of Gannets and Brent, 20 or so Kittiwake, 3 Arctic Skua (PBr).

 

Mon 16th Oct 23

Reports from today:

Simon Cox

09:40 Male Beardie in hand now, Reed bed. (see Ringing page)

Dennis Pryor

11:19 Two Fieldfare on farm to Frinton track.

Pete Loud

13:15 Still a few Goldfinch and Redpoll going through this morning. 2 Bearded Tit, 4 Stonechat, 5 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing. 1 Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest in the bushes. Offshore, 1 med Gull, 1 Gannet and a few Brent. (Brambling in bushes by raised platform 1 pm, per PD).

17:03 Seawatch 2:45 -3:45. Kittiwake 40+ including some nice and close in, 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Gannet, 3 Shelduck, a few decent groups of Brent, 2 Mediterranean Gull and 7 Wigeon.

Brian Combes

17:22 Walk from Frinton to The Haven and back this morning included: 2 male Bearded Tit (stunning in the hand - thanks Pat and Simon), 7 Cetti’s Warbler (singing), 9 Pied Wags (3 south), 10 Reed Bunting (3 south), 1 Rock Pipit, 26 Mipit (south + many on site), 105 Goldfinch (south), 11 Skylark (south), 5 Stonechat (2 pairs, 1 single), 12 Linnet (south), 29 Siskin (27 south, 2 north), 21 Wigeon, 1 Turnstone, 10 Chaffinch (south), 4 Goldcrest, 1 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Peregrine (north over approach road), 47 Redpoll (34 south, 13 north), 2 Chiff, 2 Greenfinch, 44 Greylag, 43 Teal, 1 Snipe

 

Sun 15th Oct 23

Reports from the last week

Fri 6th Oct 23

Paul Brayshaw

08:44 Seawall Frinton to gc dump. 3 wheatear, 2 rock pipit, 2 stonechat between raised tee and pillbox.  Light passage of (haven totals) 75 goldfinch, 100 linnet plus smaller numbers of mipit, swallow and skylark.

Sat 7th Oct 23

Pete Loud

Good passage along the front this morning. All totals are only estimated. Goldfinch dominated with 400+,then Linnet 150+, Siskin 30+, Greenfinch 20, Chaffinch 5, Meadow Pipit100+, Reed Bunting 20+, Pied Wagtail 12, Grey Wagtail 1, Swallow 40+, House Martin 30, Sand Martin 1. Scrape just 125 Lapwing, 1 Curlew & 12 Teal. Farm loop, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Corn Bunting. Around site, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 9 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear & Mistle Thrush.

Sun 8th Oct 23

Pete Loud

Lovely warm calm morning at the haven. Very pleasurable hour or so spent with Pat & Simon who were ringing plenty of Redpoll, Swallow, Reed Bunting & Meadow Pipit. Nice to see a Cetti’s close up in the hand at last. Short-eared Owl came in over our heads onto the marsh. Scrape still quiet, 2 Snipe, 4 Curlew, 12 Teal, 11 Wigeon & Greenshank heard not seen. Marsh Harrier over, a few Chiffs in the bushes with 1 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest & 3 Redwing. Still groups of Goldfinch moving through and at least 25 Redpoll. Lots of Brent moving through offshore,(in the hundreds),and a few flocks of Wigeon with a few Pintail.

Tues 10th Oct 23

Matt Lonsdale

09:54 2 Raven south

14:34 Nice varied session haven this morning 07:50-12:30. Vis-mig totals 07:50-10:50. Highlight 2 Raven south, 2nd record possibly off fields. 1021 Goldfinch, 31 Redpoll, 35 Siskin, 5 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, 100+ Linnet, 14 Reed Bunting, 38 Skylark, 200+ Mipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 5 Grey Wag, 9 Alba Wag, 4 Dunnock, 1 House Sparrow, 3+ Swallow, 3 Med Gull and a Golden Plover all south. A Marsh Harrier circled the farm + Corn Bunting. A wheatear and 2 Stonechat along seawall. Very little in bushes other than few Blackbirds odd Blackcap and Chiffs

Fri 13th Oct 23

Simon Cox

Afternoon visit in strong SW wind: Wigeon 26, Teal 36, Lapwing 125, Snipe 1, Peregrine 1, Kestrel 1, GBBG 4, H Gull 25, B-h Gull 250+ (mostly on back fields), Kingfisher 1 (scrape), Stonechat 2, Meadow Pipit 5, Green Woodpecker 1, Goldcrest 2, Jay 1.

Sat 14th Oct 23

Pete Loud

Lots of Goldfinches going through this morning easily 500+,with a few Redpoll and Linnet,1 Grey Wagtail, 14 Swallow, 3 House Martin. 2 Med Gull passed offshore. 6 Stonechat. Bushes were quiet, just 3 Chiffs and 2 Goldcrest.

Sun 15th Oct 23

Pete Loud

Highlights from this morning, a Merlin flew just offshore and landed on the rocks at French point and a Black-throated Diver flew north close to mid distance. From other looks out to sea, 4 Gannet, 4 Common Scoter, 2 Great C Grebe & 2 Sandwich Tern, plus a Short-eared Owl that eventually flew In harassed by Gulls. 21 Golden Plover over the arable fields. Elsewhere, 1 Curlew, 5 Swallow, 5 Stonechat, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Rock Pipit and a few groups of Goldfinch still going through.

 

Thurs 5th Oct 23

Reports from today

Simon Cox

13:20 Merlin rapidly south c0750, good finch passage early, estimated Goldfinch 400+, Linnet 25, Lesser Redpoll 5 (found in net, probably a few more passing), also M Pipit 80+, Reed Bunting c15.

Brian Combes

17:45 Early morning walk from Frinton to The Haven and back today: 464 Goldfinch (south), 172 Linnet (south), 128 Mipit (south), 61 Swallow (south), 12 House Martin (south), 11 Pied Wag (5 south), 17 Siskin (4 north 13 south), 16 Redpoll (south), 1 Grey Wag (south), 1 Merlin (sluice, south), 66 Lapwing, 1 Hare (beautiful - running across the 18th green first thing), 11 Chiff (1 singing), 1 Blackcap, 1 Wheatear (seawall), 7 Cetti’s (singing), 6 Stonechat (2 pairs, 2 singles), 1 Avocet, 7 Chaff (south), 8 Reed Bunting (4 south), 1 Sparrowhawk.

I will be away for the next week but hope to catch up with the blog next weekend.

 

Wed 4th Oct 23

The only two highlights from this morning were both fly-overs, a Merlin was added to the site year list and a cracking Kingfisher, both just in front of the hide.

From the hide: c40 Teal, 10 Wigeon, 2 Mallard, 143 Lapwing, 2 Curlew, 1 Avocet, 44 Blk. H Gulls, 10 Herring Gulls, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Grebe, 2 Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 1 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher, plus Swallows, House Martin, Siskin, Mippit & Goldfinch over. RJ/MR.

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

10:25 Female Merlin over hide/scrape.

 

Tues 3rd Oct 23

Two tit flocks held half a dozen Chiffchaff around the bushes, 2 Turnstone were on the sluice rocks and Richard had 6 Stonechat on a walk to the Frinton end.

From the hide: 2 Greylags, c30 Teal, 10 Wigeon, 2 Mallard, 3 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Grebe, 140 Lapwing, 1 Curlew, 142 Blk H Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 9+ Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrel. PNt/MR

 

Mon 2nd Oct 23

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

07:36 Pair of Bearded Tits seawall just north of northern pillbox. Also 2 Stonechat, 4 Redpoll and 6+ Chiffs from Frinton end.

Matt Lonsdale

13:34 Juv Honey Buzzard over farm towards scrape.

13:36 And lost to view, gone over hide and past sewage works.

18:01 Haven late morning/ early afternoon - A juv Honey Buzzards seemed to come out of the wood, headed straight to the coast and then continued low and south. 6 Golden Plover circled the arable and a Yellow Wag on the paddocks.

 

Sun 1st Oct 23

Very quiet around the site today.

From the hide: 46 Teal, c90 Lapwings, 3 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 26 Blk H Gulls, 1 Med Gull (over), 5 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler. 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, plus a steady stream of Swallow and House Martin, mippits, larks and finches. PL/RJ/MR