Thurs 30th Nov 23

A frozen marsh and scrape meant very few birds around this morning. A walk to French Point returned 3 Purple Sands, 3 Turnstone, a pair of Stonechat, a Pied Wag and a Mipit. A short look out to sea added 11 Brent and a distant Diver sp south, 1 Common Scoter and a Cormorant north.

At the end of November the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 186.

 

Wed 29th Nov 23

All much the same today bright sunshine but very cold, c150 Greylags on the approach road marsh with 20+ Canada Geese and lots of gulls, a Goldcrest for BH by the 6 bar gate and one for me at the sewage works gate. Along the front were 3 Pairs of Stonechats, 2 Purple Sands, a Rock Pipit & a Pied Wag.

On and around the scrape: c200 Teal, 20 Wigeon, 2 Shelduck, Lots of Lapwing on the arable, 1 Avocet, 1 Redshank, 1 Curlew, 1 Buzzard, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Reed Bunting and a few Blackbirds. Plus 2 Lt. Grebes on the brook behind the sluice.

 

Tues 28th Nov 23

Bright but very cold this morning, nice when you were in the sunshine.

150+ Greylag, 20+ Canada Geese were on the marsh below the carpark first thing with lots of gulls and 2 Curlew. Offshore was very quiet again with just 12 Brent sitting on the sea off French Point and a further 60+ off the raised tee. Purple Sandpiper numbers had increased to 6 south of French Point, being chased up the seawall by the swells from a big tide just before high water.

Around the scrape: c200 Teal, c30 Wigeon, 4 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 2 Avocet, 1 Blk. T Godwit, 4 Snipe (over), 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine (juv. on arable), 1 Kestrel. MR et.al. Plus 1 Chinese Water Deer. 

 

Mon 27th Nov 23

Very quiet offshore this morning, even the boat load of fishermen anchored off the front weren't catching anything. Three Purple Sands were on the rocks south of French Point as the tide dropped away.

Around the scrape: c200 Greylags, 100+ Teal, 18 Wigeon, 6 Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 4 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 3 Avocet, c300 Lapwing (on the arable), 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel.

 

Sun 26th Nov 23

A short visit for me today included lots of Greylag and Canada Geese on the approach road marsh, Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler below the raised platform, 2 Buzzards, c350 Lapwing and lots of Starlings up on the arable. Very quiet offshore just a few Cormorant, 2 Med Gulls and 1 Oystercatcher (s). PL/MR

Around the bushes 14 Blackbirds, 5 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing all feeding on sloes, and a single Chiffchaff. MR. 

Report from today:

Matt Lonsdale

08:20 Woodcock south.

 

Sat 25th Nov 23

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale 

08:07 Barnacle Goose on marsh to right of hide.

08:10 At least 2 Waxwings heard pillbox.

Pete Loud

14:01 Haven this morning, 5 Purple Sand along the front, 1 Ringed Plover on the rocks. Redwing by the hide and imm. Peregrine up on the arable. Green Sandpiper on the Scrape.

 

Fri 24th Nov 23

No reports received so far:

 

Thurs 23rd Nov 23

Reports from today:

Brian Combes

18:16 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back this morning included: 3 Purple Sandpiper (south of French Point), 1 Siskin (over), 4 Goldfinch (south), 2 Chiff, 1 Goldcrest, 15 Blackbird, 3 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 4 Skylark (north), 3 Stonechat (pair and single), 130+ Black-headed Gull (golf course first thing), 4 Cetti’s Warbler (singing), 3 Shelduck (2 north), 1 Great-crested Grebe (sitting on sea), 1 Buzzard, 2 Rock Pipit, 3 Reed Bunting, 12 Mipit, 1 Water Rail (calling from reeds, Frinton end), 100+ Lapwing, 4 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, 58 Wigeon, 1 Avocet, 224 Teal.

 

Wed 22nd Nov 23

A short seawatch this morning gave just 2 R T Divers, 1 Gt. C Grebe, 1 Com. Scoter & 1 Oystercatcher for Richard first thing.

2 Turnstone and 3 GBB Gulls were with the Herring Gulls on the sluice rocks, 2 Rock Pipits, 3 Pied Wags, 3 Stonechat, 1 Reed Bunting and several Meadow Pipits were noted on the walk to French Point and back to the hide.

From the hide: 2 Canada Geese, c140 Brent (up on the arable), 340 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, 350+ Lapwing (up on the arable), 10 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 1 Cetti's Warbler. RJ/MR.

 

Tues 21st Nov 23

Sadly still no sign of the Snow Bunting this morning, but 2 Purple Sands were on the sluice rocks and 3 Turnstone on the outfall, also a continual stream of Starlings coming in off the sea in flocks from 10 birds to 100+.

From the hide: c300 Brent Geese (on the arable), 17 Canada Geese (plus the 7 hybrid family), 100+ Greylag (below Raised Platform), 200+ Teal, 5 Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, c150 Lapwing, 1 Avocet, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk. MR et.al.

Mike O'Hanlon

11:40 Adult Gannet south from French point, mid distance.

11:46 Now feeding.

12:19 Diver sp south from sluice.

 

Mon 20th Nov 23

No sign of the Snow Bunting this morning, has it moved on or will it be around tomorrow ?.

A single Purple Sand and Rock Pipit were on the rocks at French Point.

From the hide: 150+ Teal, 8 Wigeon, 3 Shelduck, 6 Shoveler, 1 Snipe, c200 Lapwing and c90 Brent (on the arable), 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. BH/MR.

The cracking Grey Wagtail that has been around for a while was on the roof of the cottages with two Pied Wags.

 

 

Sun 19th Nov 23

A Chiffchaff was in the sewage works hedge on he way to see the Snow Bunting at the sluice.

From the hide: 17 Canada Geese (plus the hybrid family), 150+ Teal, 18 Wigeon, 6 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 1 Scaup, 1 Shelduck, 100+ Lapwing (on the arable) 1 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel.

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

08:05 Snow Bunting still by sluice. 2 Chiffchaff, few Goldcrest and Thrushes in bushes.

 

Sat 18th Nov 23

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

11:19 Snow Bunting still braving the elements at the sluice.

Pete Loud

12:42 Seawatching from the Haven this morning. Up to 13 Little Gull were feeding constantly offshore near the outfall, plus ad Med Gull. 6 Gannet feeding offshore. Red-thr Diver 5, Gt Cr Grebe 1, Common Scoter 45+, Tufted Duck 2, Pintail 1, Wigeon 12, Brent 6. (RJ,PL)

 

Fri 17th Nov 23

The Snow Bunting was on show for the fifth day today, and still giving pleasure to lots of people.

A walk to the Raised Tee added, 4 Purple Sands, 4 Stonechat, 2 Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipits, Pied Wags, 1 Curlew on the marsh and 10 Brent Geese on the golf course.

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

08:27 Snow Bunting remains in situ.

 

Thurs 16th Nov 23

Just a two hour seawatch today with Richard & Graham, between 08:00-10:00, 215 Brent (all south apart from 17 sitting on the sea), 108 Cormorant (N), 104 Common Scoter (63S 41N), 10 Wigeon, 3 Shelduck (S), 5 R T Diver (N), 1  R B Merganser (S), 1 Curlew (S), 1 Little Gull, 1 Gt. C Grebe (sitting on the sea). 

Then a quick walk to the sluice to see Snowy, still showing well at 10-15.

Reports from today:

Brian Combes

08:04 Snow Bunting still by sluice.

18:23 Frinton to Haven and back this morning included: 1 Snow Bunting, 1 Water Rail (calling from reeds at Frinton end), 550+ Black-headed Gulls (350+ on golf course first thing, 200+ on flooded fields at Haven), 18 Goldfinch, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, 10 Blackbird, 7 Starling (south), 2 Stonechat (pair), 4 Cetti’s Warbler (singing), 3 Reed Bunting, 11 Mipit, 2 Rock Pipit, 1 Shelduck (the only bird on the scrape!), 1 Sparrowhawk, 10 Shoveler, 1 Buzzard, 1 Med Gull (with the b-h gulls on the fields) + a good trickle of Brent and Scoter over the sea which Richard and Mick were counting better than me.

 

Wed 15th Nov 23

Quiet around the bushes this morning with a Goldcrest with the L T Tit flock for Richard was about it. Quite a bit of time was spent with the Snow Bunting again, such super little bird that continues with his feeding as the dog walkers and cyclists pass, until the Peregrine passed overhead when it froze and looked to the sky. Just a few more pictures.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

A walk to the raised tee added 1 Redshank, 1 Turnstone (on sluice rocks), 4 Purple Sandpipers, 4 Stonechat, 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Common Gull with Blk. Headed Gulls on the golf course RJ/MR

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

08:15 Snow Bunting still sluice.

 

Tues 14th Nov 23

The Snow Bunting was the star of the show again this morning, stand still around the sluice area for a few minutes and there it was a few metres from your feet.

From the hide: 150+ Greylag, 170+ Teal, 10+ Wigeon (lots more around the marsh), 2 Shoveler, 80+ Lapwing on the arable, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Kestrel. DW/BH/MR

Reports from today:

Mike O'Hanlon

11:45 Single Purple Sand at French point.

 

Mon 13th Nov 23

A seawatch this morning with Pete Loud turned out to be interesting with, 10 Gannet (4n 6s), 8 Brent, 127 Common Scoter, 7 Teal, 3 Pintail, 3 Pochard, 2 Velvet Scoter, 1 Wigeon, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, several Dunlin all south, 1 Red T Diver north, 1+ Little Gull and 1 Common Gull with gulls around the outfall buoy.

From the hide: 2 Mute Swan, 110 Greylag + (the hybrid family (canada/greylag still together), a few Wigeon & Teal around the marsh, 8+ Shoveler, 7 Gadwall (over), 6 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 5 Dunlin (over), 4 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 1 Marsh Harrier, lots of Lapwing, corvids and Starling on the arable,  5+ Blackbird, 3+ Fieldfare and a Reed Bunting along the back hedge. PL/MR.

High point of the morning had to be the Snow Bunting that flew up in front of us as we reached the sluice and landed on the seawall, we spent the next half an hour with this very confiding bird wandering around feeding within metres of our feet PL/MO'H/MR

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

09:59 3 drake Pochard close south.

12:10 Snow Bunting on ground near Sluice.

Mike O'Hanlon

13:17 Snow Bunting is hanging around if anyone wants a tick. Very keen on sticking to this spot.

13:31 2 Purps on rocks between sluice and French point.

13:37 Another 2 Purps on sands at French point.

 

Sun 12th Nov 23

Reports from today:

Pee Loud

12:37 Female Goldeneye south,4 Red B Merganser.

13:06 Pom Skua south.

13:20 Superb drake Velvet Scoter close south then back north.

13:36 Pom. Skua chasing gulls offshore plus 2 drake Eider south.

14:29 Good variety offshore from the shelter today.1-2 Pom Skua, 25+ Gannet, 6 Kittiwake, 12 Little Gull, 15+ Red throated Diver, 2 Great crested Grebe, 4 Red breasted Merganser, 1 Goldeneye, 3 Eider, 1 Velvet Scoter, 60+ Common Scoter, 3 Pintail, 1 Grey Plover, 20 Dunlin, 1 Curlew, 150 Brent.

Simon Cox

16:10 Water Rail calling near our reedbed ringing base early this morning. Almost certainly final visit there this year—ringed the grand total of 1 Mipit & water level in rides very high.

 

Sat 11th Nov 23

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

13:58 From the chippings lay by this morning, 2 Cattle Egret flew in and landed on the marsh behind the houses. Walk down from Gt Holland Church 1 Corn Bunting, 20+ Reed Bunting and a few Chaffinch, Linnet and Skylarks all in the pumpkin set-aside. Peregrine up on the arable. 2 Pair of Stonechat along the front & 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Purple Sandpiper. 1Avocet on Scrape plus Marsh Harrier over.

Pete Newson

15:21 Bearded Tit called briefly from the reed bed by the golf course.

 

Fri 10th Nov 23

On my way to site this morning a Cattle Egret was out on the marsh, to the west of the B1032 viewed from the chippings layby. 

A walk to the raised tee with Richard and Mike added 1 Lt. Egret, 2 Purple Sands, 1 Sandwich Tern, 8+ Brent Geese (on the arable), 4 Stonechat, 1 Rock Pipit. 

Nice to see the Purple Sandpipers back
Mike O'Hanlon©

 

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

12:07 2 Cattle Egrets flew from flooded field just west of hump back bridge into reeds in front of housing estate.

Brian Combes

17:06 Frinton to The Haven and back this morning (passage mainly first thing and most finches high): 4 Purple Sandpiper (together on defences at high tide), 43 Siskin (south), 99 Goldfinch (south), 29 Chaffinch (south), 8 Redpoll (south), 22 Mipit (17 south), 6 Skylark (south), 109 Starling (64 south), 2 Goldcrest, 4 Cetti’s (singing), 3 Pied Wag, 4 Stonechat (2 pairs), 4 Song Thrush, 13 Blackbird, 1 Redwing, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 80+ Lapwing, 8 Shoveler, 253 Teal, 21 Wigeon, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Rock Pipit.

Photo Brian Combes©

 

Thurs 9th Nov 23

The flooding is subsiding a bit, but still a lot of water around the site, hundreds of Teal and Wigeon around the marsh but around the scrape area were, 100+ Teal, 80+ Wigeon, 8 Shoveler, 6 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 1 Cattle Egret, 2 Cormorant, c30 Lapwing, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Stonechat, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Reed Bunting, Lots of Starling, 6 Brent (over) most likely those on the golf course later. JR/MR

Richards walk to the Frinton end of the site added just 2 extra Stonechat.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

On my way home two Cattle Egrets were over the road just west of the humpback bridge, looking for the cows.

 

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

13:53 Purple Sand on the rocks at the end of the sluice.

14:12 2 Purple Sands at end of French Point.

14:29 6 Brent on the fairway south of the raised tee.

 

Wed 8th Nov 23

No reports received so far.

 

Tues 7th Nov 23

No reports received so far.

 

 

Mon 6th Nov 23

I had a quick look out to sea this morning, just 4 Brent, 1 Gannet, small groups of passerines and a big movement of Woodpigeons all south. Along the approach road just one Goldcrest with a few Tits.

The water over the marsh was as high as I've ever seen it, overtopping the island in the middle of the scrape, and the pond is just part of the flood field.

Around the scrape area, 2 Mute Swans (juvs), 120+ Greylag, 100+ Teal, 80+ Wigeon, 1 Shelduck, 90+ Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 Blk. T Godwit, 2 Grey Heron, loads of gulls and corvids, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel.

4 Turnstone were on the sluice rocks and the Grey Wagtail was still around the cottages with a couple of Pied's  

 

Sun 5th Nov 23

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

10:02 Hen Harrier north off shore

Pete Loud

13:10 Haven this morning, 3 Egyptian Geese flew from flooded marsh off towards Holland. Ringtail Harrier seen initially by Mick but only briefly looked very Orange below and could have been a Pallid, Richard and I saw it as a silhouette as it went out to sea, one that got away. Still a few Goldfinch passing through, 3 Siskin, Short-eared Owl over Golf course, 3 Stonechats, 1 Redwing, 4 Turnstone and Purple Sand at Sluice. Grey Wagtail on roof of cottage by Sewage Farm.

Matt Lonsdale

13:45 No sign of swift sp @ naze. Only 2 Swallows to add to PL’s report from haven earlier.

 

Sat 4th Nov 23

I joined Simon, Pete & Richard just in time to pick up a year tick with a dark phase Pomarine Skua.

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

12:51 Seawatch from Haven shelter this morning: 2 Adult Pomarine Skua, (1 light and 1 dark phase), 20+ Little Gull, 70+ Kittiwake, 45+ Gannet, 1 Guillemot, 1 Red br Merganser, 15 Common Scoter, 3 Wigeon & 3 Brent.

 

Fri 3rd Nov 23

Reports from today

Steve Entwhistle

10:30 Sailing club next to shelter, Little Gull just passed going south, had  2 Eider earlier, Richard had a Gannet.

20:07 Today Holland haven shelter 8.20am to 3.50pm. Last couple of hours with Mike O'Hanlon. 12+ Gannets, 1 adult Little Gull. 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 fm. Common Scoter, 1 Shag, 2 fm. type Eider, 12+ Mipit, 1 m Tufted Duck, all flying south.

 

Thurs 2nd Nov 23

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

08:16 2 Little Gull south.

08:43 9 more Little Gull north all very close inc first 1st winter.

10:59 Up till 10. 60+ Little Gull North + double figures offshore and 2 south. Single Kittiwake N, 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Com Scoter and 15 Brent south. + few Gannets and lots of GBB Gull south.

Paul Brayshaw

13:31 Seawall walk Frinton to above scrape. Much quieter at sea with the wind more ssw and only two Little Gulls north (the earlier birds disappeared as soon as the wind switched slightly and rain eased). Family groups of Brent taking it easy on the gc (max 29). Scrape almost bird-less as farmer tending to cattle.

 

Wed 1st Nov 23

A nice mixture of birds during a short seawatch with Pete & Richard this morning, see below.

Reports from today

Pete Loud

12:39 Seawatch from the shelter for couple of hours this morning. 3 drake Velvet Scoter close in that landed for a while right in front of the shelter. 30+ Common Scoter, 1 Red B Merganser, 1 Red T Diver, 1 Razorbill, 20 Pintail, 60+ Knot, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Curlew, 800+ Dunlin, 3 Gannet & a few groups of Brent. Scrape brief visit, 1 Cattle Egret, 1 Egyptian Goose.