Thurs 29th Feb 24

Another Green Sandpiper was new this morning and a Water Vole put in a brief appearance when he realised a Moorhen was eating all his apple,  otherwise much the same.

From the hide: c150 Teal, c100 Wigeon, 60+ Shoveler, 12 Pintail, 10 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 4 Shelduck, 19 Lapwing, 8 Blkwits, 7 Avocet, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Oystercatcher, 81 Blk H Gulls, 2 Com. Gulls, 1 Med Gull, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Stonechat (pair), 6+ Brown Hare, 1 Water Vole. RJ/MR

Reports From today:

Brian Combes

Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via farm this morning included: 6 Purple Sandpiper (French Point), 2 Corn Bunting (1 on arable, 1 singing NW of where footpath leaves the golf course), 150+ Black-headed Gull (golf course first thing), 6 Mediterranean Gull (4 adults with black-headed gulls on golf course and two with gulls over arable - one first-winter, one second-winter), 5 Cetti’s (singing), 4 Stonechat (pair and two females together by golf course dump), 75 Curlew (51 south first thing, 24 on fields), 1 Sparrowhawk (flew through passerine flock in pumpkin field, singled out a skylark and eventually caught it), 80+ Starling (golf course), 30+ Skylark (arable), 13 Reed Bunting (including 3 singing and 8 with skylarks north of golf course workshop), 2 Song Thrush (singing), 15+ Linnet (pumpkin field), 20+ Chaffinch (pumpkin field), 100+ Teal, 200+ Wigeon, 36 Shoveler, 5 Pintail, 4 Gadwall, 5 Oystercatcher, 1 Buzzard, 4 Goldfinch, 8 Turnstone, 5 Avocet, 1 Goldcrest, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Chinese Muntjac, 2 Chinese water deer. (12 species in song).

At the end of February the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 98

 

Wed 28th Feb 24

Just a few slight adjustments today but otherwise much the same.

From the hide: 6 Canada Geese, Wigeon, Teal, 85 Shoveler, 10 Mallard, 7+ Gadwall, 6 Shelduck, 4 Pintail, 50+ Curlew, 25 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Golden Plover, 82 Blk. H Gulls, 2 Com. Gulls, 1 Cetti's Warbler, lots of corvids and Starling.

6 Purple Sands were on French Point with a second pair of Oystercatchers and 2 Turnstone were on the beach north of the sluice RJ/MR

 

Tues 27th Feb 24

A short visit after lunch today found things a little different with 6 Blk. T Godwits, 5 Avocet and a Green Sandpiper on the scrape. 

From the hide: c200 Teal, c100 Wigeon, 80 Shoveler, 10 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 4 Shelduck, 4 Pintail, 35 Curlew, 34 Lapwing, 6 Blkwits, 5 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Green Sandpiper, 91 Blk. H Gulls, 3 Com. Gulls, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard Only). plus 2 Chinese Water Deer. MR et.al.

6 Purple Sands and 2 Turnstone were around French Point.

 

Mon 26th Feb 24

From the hide: Wigeon, Teal, 63 Shoveler, 19 Pintail, 6 Gadwall, 5 Shelduck, 32 Lapwing, c20 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 77 Blk. H Gulls, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, lots of Corvids and Starling. DC/MR

 

Sun 25th Feb 24

Very little change from yesterday.

From the hide: Lots of Wigeon and Teal, 40+ Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 4 Shelduck, 45 Lapwing, 11 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, 85 Blk. H Gull, 2 Com. Gull, 2 Med Gull, 2 Buzzard, loads of corvid on the arable, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, Skylark, Reed Bunting, Cetti's Warbler (heard). RJ/MR/et.al.

Sat 24th Feb 24

 A short visit again today.

From the hide: Wigeon, Teal, 55 Shoveler, 8 Shelduck, 6 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 13 Curlew , 4 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, Skylark and 2 Stonechat.

A walk to French Point added just 1 Lt. Egret out on the marsh and 6 Purple Sands on the rocks south of the point. RJ/MR

 

Fri 23rd Feb 24

Richard & Dave managed 6 Purple Sands & 2 Turnstone along the front plus a couple of Oystercatchers on the golf course.

From the hide: Much the same, lots of Wigeon, Teal & Shoveler, 6 Pintail, 6 Shelduck. 6 Mallard, c20 Lapwing, 6 Blk. T Godwits, 2 Dunlin, c40 Blk. H Gulls, 2+ Med Gulls. Also 1 Chinese Water Deer. RJ/DC/MR.

 

Thurs 22nd Feb 24

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

14:47 Damp seawall run Frinton to French Point. 5 Purples at the point. Gc - 88 Carrion Crow, 350 Starling, 8+ Meds with 250 bhg.  Oyk south offshore.

 

Wed 21st Feb 24

No reports received so far.

 

Tues 20th Feb 24

A walk along the front found 5 Turnstone and 3 Purple Sands on French Point rocks.

Even more flooding over the marsh today but not quite as many birds around.

From the hide: c20 Greylags (+ the Hybrid family), c100 Wigeon & c100 Teal, 37 Shoveler, 8 Mallard, 8 Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 20+ Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 86 Blk. H Gulls, 3 Com. Gulls, lots of Corvid's and Starling.

 

Mon 19th Feb 24

Reports from today:

John Sawyer

House Martin off sea at 1:20 over sluice

Mike O'Hanlon

3 Purple Sands just south of French Point, just as the rising tide is hitting the rocks.

 

Sun 18th Feb 24

Lots more flooding after the overnight rain and the birds were spread all over, c30 Greylags were up on the arable with more behind the raised platform, Wigeon, Teal, & Shoveler everywhere in large numbers plus 10+ Pintail, 8 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, a few Lapwing, Snipe & Curlew were out on the marsh and a female Sparrowhawk had a fly across the scrape. RJ/MR

 

Sat 17th Feb 24

Not a lot of change again today, 5 Purple Sands were on the sluice rocks having a wash in the fresh water running from the outfall.

From the hide: c20 Canada Geese, c20 Greylag, Wigeon, Teal, 58 Shoveler, 14 Shelduck, 6 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 26 Lapwing, 20 Curlew, 7 Snipe, 1 Ringed Plover (over, RJ), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, and the Water Vole showed up again. RJ/MR

 

Fri 16th Feb 24

All much the same today, 3 Purple Sands were roosting on the sluice rocks at low tide, 20+ Lapwing and a single Snipe were new, no sign of the Pintails or the Peregrine. MR et.al.

 

Thurs 15th Feb 24

The highlight of the morning was the Peregrine in hunting mode putting everything to flight on a couple of occasions, but as far as we could tell unsuccessfully.

From the hide: c60 Greylags, 20+ Canada Geese, c250 Wigeon, c250 Teal, 55 Shoveler, 9 Shelduck, 6 Gadwall, 6 Pintail, 6 Mallard, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler & several singing Skylark. PL/RJ/MR/et.al.

 

Wed 14th Feb 24

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

16:17 5 Purps usual spot below French Pt., 16 Turnstone on beach.

Brian Combes

17:34 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via farm this morning included: 2 Purple Sandpiper (granite blocks, just north of north pillbox), 500+ Black-headed Gulls (golf course first thing), 3 Mediterranean Gulls (2 with black-headed gulls, 1 on sea in full summer plumage),  8 Cetti’s (singing), 4 Stonechat (pair and two singles), 14 Curlew (1 south), 1 Sparrowhawk, 120+ Starling (25 south, 8 north), 30+ Skylark (arable), 5 Reed Bunting (2 singing, first singing this year), 3 Song Thrush (singing), 5 Linnet, 1 Green Woodpecker, 15 Mipit, 170+ Teal, 150+ Wigeon, 48 Shoveler, 4 Pintail (2 north, 2 on the marsh), 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 40+ Stock Dove, 1 Snipe, 30+ Chaffinch (farm), 2 Corn Bunting (arable, but none in song yet). (10 species in song).

 

Tues 13th Feb 24

I had a short visit to the Haven late morning, the latest heavy rainfall means that a large area of the marsh is flooded again with birds spread all over the place.

From the hide: 19 Canada Geese, 8 Greylag on the arable, lots of Teal, Wigeon, 30+ Shoveler, 8 Mallard, 6 Pintail, 5 Shelduck, 20+ Curlew, plus a Cetti's Warbler (heard only).

After some recent clearing work a Water Vole showed well in front of the hide. 

On leaving 5 Purple Sands had moved onto the rocks south of French Point with the rising tide.MR

 

Mon 12th Feb 24

No reports received so far.

 

Sun 11th Feb 24

No reports received so far.

 

Sat 10th Feb 24

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

12:26 Much the same over the haven this morning including Little Egret on flood behind carpark and a pr of Pintail from pillbox up at the farm a small flock of Linnets and Chaffinch.

 

Fri 9th Feb 24

Reports from today:

Simon Cox

14:39 Haven this am: Greylag 200, Shelduck 1, Mallard 9, Wigeon 230, Teal 140, Shoveler 12, Lapwing 51, Oystercatcher 1, Blackwit 9, Purple Sand 6 (RJ), B-h Gull 700+ (mostly on g-c), Common Gull 15, Herring Gull 85, LBBG 2, Med Gull 4 (all g-c, ad in near fsp, 2 ads winter p—one with metal ring—one 2nd w), Stock Dove 60+, Starling 700+ (mostly big flock g-c), Stonechat 1 male, Reed Bunt 2.

 

Thurs 8th Feb 24

During a short visit this morning the only things of note were 7 Com. Scoter heading north offshore, but very wet. RJ/MR

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

15:50 1 Sanderling, 3 Turnstone north of sluice 2 adult Med Gulls GC.

 

Wed 7th Feb 24

A few more birds offshore this morning with 200+ Cormorants moving north first thing and several R T Divers sitting on the sea. 5 Purple Sands were on the rocks south of French Point again as the tide was quite high.

The overnight rain meant that a lot more marsh was flooded and Geese and Ducks were spread all over, especially nice were 17 Pintail that dropped onto the flood to the right of the hide late morning (5 Drakes, 12 Ducks).

From the hide: c100 Greylag, 80+ Brent, 16 Canada Geese, Wigeon, Teal, 26+ Shoveler, 17 Pintail, 8 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 160 Lapwing, c50 Curlew, 11 Blkwits, 100+ Blk H Gulls, c20 Common Gulls, 5 Med Gulls, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR et.al.

Reports from today:

Mike O'Hanlon

11:40 17 Pintails on the marsh and at least 5 Med Gulls on the scrape this morning.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

 

Tues 6th Feb 24

A walk along the front this morning showed there were 5 Purple Sands and a Turnstone on the rocks south of French Point.

From the hide: 150 Greylag, 100 Brent, 16 Canada Geese, Wigeon, Teal, 25+ Shoveler, 5 Shelduck, 120 Lapwing, 9 Blkwits, 2 Snipe, Cetti's Warbler (heard only), Reed Bunting, Skylark, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel. MO'H/BH/MR et.al.

A Common Scoter was sitting on the sea close offshore in front of the pillbox before drifting further out and south around the sluice rocks, (found by a visitor, Thank you).

 

Mon 5th Feb 24

No sign of the Jack Snipe this morning but 2 Com. Snipe were in the area, still a lot of gulls hanging around as still some work going on up on the arable.

From the hide: c200 Brent, 50 Greylag, 16 Canada Geese, Wigeon and Teal, 24 Shoveler, 12 Pintail, 5 Shelduck, 5 Mallard, c80 Lapwing, 30 Curlew, 8+ BlkWits, 2 Snipe, Blk Headed and Herring Gulls, plus several Common Gulls and 1 Med Gull. MR et.al.

 

Sun 4th Feb 24

Had a walk to French Point after a late start, a Lt. Grebe was on the brook behind the sluice, 3 Purple Sands on the rocks south of French Pt. and a seal on the point pondering his next move.

From the hide:  c350 Brent, c50 Greylags, 350 Teal, 150 Wigeon, 30 Shoveler, 6 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 40 Lapwing, 30 Curlew, 7 Blkwits, 1 Jack Snipe, 100+ Blk H Gulls, 6 Com Gulls, 1 Med Gull, 2 Peregrine, 2 Buzzard, 6 Pied Wags, 4 Skylark, 2 Mippits, MR

 

 

Sat 3rd Feb 24

Apart from the Jack Snipe the the birds of the day were gulls, with the field behind the scrape being ploughed there were hundreds of gulls moving back and forth from the flood to the arable, incl. several hundred Blk H Gulls, 25+ Common Gulls, 40+ Herring Gulls & 1 LBB.

From the hide, 256 Brent, c50 Greylag, Wigeon, Teal, 30+ Shoveler, 8 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 100+ Lapwing, 42 Curlew, 8 Blk T Godwits, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Snipe, 1 Lt. Egret, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel.

2 Lt. Grebe were on the brook behind the sluice MR.

 

 

Fri 2nd Feb 24

Two more for the Site Year List this morning with Greenfinch at the Feeding Stn. & Green Sandpiper at the back of the scrape. The Jack Snipe was still in the same area with a Com. Snipe in close attendance.

From the hide: C150 Brent, 50 Greylags, c400 wigeon, c400 Teal, 22 Shoveler, 5 Shelduck, c100 Lapwing, c70 Curlew, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Com. Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Lt Egret, 1 Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler (heard only). MO'H/MR/BH

2 Purple Sands were on the sluice rocks, a Lt. Grebe on the brook behind the sluice, a Song Thrush singing at the Dipping Pond and a Goldcrest in the tit flock in the chippings lay-by. MR

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

10:16 Seawall run (no bins). At least four Purples and the Rock Pipit by French point. Oyk. on the rocks further north, 2 Stonechat (pair) near gc dump.

Brian Combes

16:51 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via farm this morning included: 1 green sandpiper, 3 purple sandpiper (granite blocks, Frinton end first thing), 450+ black-headed gulls (on sea/golf course first thing, gradually moving inland), 4 Cetti’s (singing), 17 pied wag, 2 stonechat (pair Frinton end), 3 hare (1 behind scrape, 2 boxing behind the golf course - lovely), 71 curlew (on fields north of scrape, also 41 south), 163 brent (159 north of scrape, 4 south),  1 sparrowhawk, 100+ starling (arable), 35+ skylark (arable), 2 reed bunting, 1 rock pipit, 2 song thrush (1 singing), 1 goldcrest, 50+ linnet (arable), 1 great spotted woodpecker (drumming in wood behind farm), 1 green woodpecker, 150+ lapwing, 28 mipit (mainly on paddocks/arable), 10 black-tailed godwit, 110+ teal, 150+ wigeon, 12 shoveler. (8 species in song).

 

Thurs 1st Feb 24

The Jack Snipe was showing much better this morning, having a couple of wanders out in the open and being much more active in general, not sure if that's a good sign or not.

A Marsh Harrier had a fly through first thing, sending ducks and geese to the air all over the marsh, Blkwits were up to 7, Wigeon, Teal, 30+ Shoveler, 10+ Shelduck, 2 Pairs of Gadwall, lots of Lapwing and Curlew, Cetti's Warbler in front of the hide and 2 Reed Bunting on the back hedge, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. PNt/LH/MR et.al.

Reports from today:

Matt Turner

15:39 8 Pintail on marsh behind scrape, Jack Snipe still, Rock Pipit French Point, 80 Curlew golf course, 6 Purps French Pt.