Been away this weekend, so a quick catch up with reports from over the last few days.

Fri 27th Sept 24

Mike O'Hanlon

11:07 Juvenile Gannet south from Haven shelter medium distance, 2 more + 2 more and an adult.

11:26 Steady flow of Gannets south.

12:00 15 Gannets south from Haven mid -far distance in last 15 mins, mainly juvenile (1-2y) birds.

Sat 28th Sept 24

Pete Loud

11:06 Walk down entrance road and around bushes this morning, fairly quiet, 1 Whitethroat, Blackcap, couple of Chiffchaff and 2 Grey Wagtail over, (PL&ML).

Simon Cox

14:12 Sightings: Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Swallow 50+, Meadow Pipit 40+, Kingfisher & Grey Wagtail, 1 Wheatear.

Photo Pat Cox©

At the end of September the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 160.

 

Thurs 26th Sept 24

From the hide: 130+ Greylag, 60+ Teal, 10 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 4 Grey Heron, 3 Cormorant, 45 Lapwing, 10 Blk T Godwits, 5 Curlew, 2 Avocet, 2 Snipe, 24 Blk H Gulls, 4 GBB, 1 Common Gull, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, a few Swallows, 1 Sand Martin, 1 Cetti's Warbler RJ/MO'H/MR et.al.

 

Wed 25th Sept 24

No reports received so far.

 

Tues 24th Sept 24

Five+ Chiffchaff and a couple of Willow Warblers with a tit flock along the Approach Rd, very quiet in and around the Dell, just a Cetti's Warbler calling from the sallows.

Hobby seen over marsh during ringing session (PNt)

From the hide: 46 Graylag, 60+ Teal, 3 Mallard, 3 Shoveler, 4 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 130+ Lapwing, 16 Blk T Godwit, 2 Avocet, 2 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 34 Blk H Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, plus several flocks of Swallow & House Martin heading south. RJ/MR et.al.  

 

 

Mon 23rd Sept 24

Maintenance work was being carried out on the scrape today so no hide count.

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

16:14 12 Yellow Wags on GC.

 

Sun 22nd Sept 24

From the hide: 148 Greylag, 50 Teal, 6+ Wigeon, 3 Shoveler, 2 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 15 Curlew, 13 Blk T Godwits, 2 Snipe, 2 Avocet, RJ/PNs/SC/MR

 

 

Sat 21st Sept 24

No reports received so far.

 

Fri 20th Sept 24

From the hide: 163 Greylag, 50+ Teal, 3 Wigeon, 2 Mallard, 6 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 40+ Lapwing, 19 Blk T Godwits, 11+ Snipe, 3 Avocet, 34 Blk H Gulls, 3 Herring Gulls, 1 LBB, 1 GBB, 1 Common Gull, RJ/DC/MO'H/MR

Mike O'Hanlon

12:16 Wheatear on beach between sluice and French Point.

 

Thurs 19th Sept 24

No reports received so far.

 

Wed 18th Sept 24

From the hide: c130 Greylag, c60 Teal, Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 60+ Lapwing, 17 Blk T Godwits, 3 Avocet, 3 Snipe, 22 Blk H Gulls, 7 Herring Gulls,1 Common Gull, 1 GBB Gull, 6 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 5 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler. RJ/MO'H/BH/MR.

Reports from today

Graham Sutton

09:12 For the record HH seawatch 0645-0910:

Gannet 26 N 1 S, Brent 108 S, C Scoter 3 N 3S. Wigeon 8 S, Teal 1 S, GC Grebe 2N, Sandwich Tern 24N 8S, Common Tern 2S.

 

Tues 17th Sept 24

From the hide 130+ Greylag, 40+ Teal, 7 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 3 Mallard, 4 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Lt Egret, 25+ Lapwing, 5 Blk T Godwits, 3 Avocet, 2 Snipe, 9 Herring Gull, 7 Blk H Gull, 1 GBB, 1 LBB, 1 Med Gull (1st. W), 5 Buzzard. PL/RJ/EJ/MR

Reports from today

Laurence Drumond

08:31 HH, 1 Gannet north, distant.

08:49 Gannets starting to circulate north, 2 single and 3.

08:57 B T Diver south, close.

10:43 4 Skua sp? north fairly distant.

Simon Cox

16:43 0700-1100 with LD & (in part) GS. Own figures only: A Skua 2 (thanks Paul—picked up distantly by GS & seen by all of us), Gannet 12 N, Gt C Grebe 2 S, Brent 30+, Shelduck 10 S, 6 N, Wigeon 70+, Teal 9, C Scoter 1, S Tern c12. Some 50+ extra distant wildfowl prob mostly Wigeon & a few more Brent. A few Mipits. Missed the diver.

 

Mon 16th Sept 24

Quiet again in the Dell, just Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, a Spotted Flycatcher was around the sewage works gate again today and possibly a second bird further down the track, a couple of Chiffchaff were with the tit flock in the feeding station.

From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 130+ Greylag, 22 Teal, 6 Mallard, 3 Shoveler, 4 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret, 67 Lapwing, 8 Blk T Godwit, 4 Avocet, 1 Water Rail, 1 Snipe,  37 Blk H Gulls, 2 LBB, 3 Herring, 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk. RJ/MR

 

Sun 15th Sept 24

Very quiet around the bushes this morning, same on the scrape apart from the GT W Egret that dropped in for a few minutes and seem to have returned this afternoon.

From the hide: 1 Mute Swan, 130+ Greylag, 4 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Gt. W Egret, 1 Lt. Egret, Mallard, 40+ Teal, 3 Shoveler, 74 Lapwing, 16 Blk  Godwit, 4 Avocet, 1 Snipe, 47 Blk H Gulls,  Herring Gulls, 1 LBB, 2 Kestrel, 1 Hobby.

Reports from today

Paul Brayshaw

07:11 Early run returning along the Haven seawall at dawn (which was stunning - clear over the sea and a low film of mist over the marsh and gc).  Seawall near raised tee - 3 Wheatear, Yellow Wag and Grey Wag, French point north to pillbox- 1 Purple and, 2 Turnstone. Offshore 2 Sandwich Tern south.

Richard Jeffree

16:00 Gwe back of scrape.

Simon Cox

19:02 1530-1700: GWE (briefly—flew towards raised platform), Heron 4+, Teal 31, Greylag 120+, Avocet 3, Snipe 3, Blackwit 18, Lapwing 60, Turnstone 1 (sluice), Buzzard 1, GBBG 5 (sluice), Linnet 60 (flock circling arable).

 

Sat 14th Sept 24

No reports received so far.

 

Fri 13th Sept 24

From the hide: 2 Mute Swan, 140 Greylags, 1 Canada Goose, 1 hybrid, 40+ Teal, Mallard, 6 Shoveler, 3 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret, 34 Lapwing, 11 Blk T Godwits, 4 Avocet, 1 Snipe, 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MR.

 

Thurs 12th Sept 24

Still much the same around the bushes but a few more Chiffchaff's, 10+ was nice to see, plus 3 Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Less Whitethroat, Willow Warbler.

From the hide: 1 Mute Swan, 150+ Greylags (+ the Greylag/Canada Goose pair with 1 hybrid youngster), 40+ Teal, 5 Shoveler, a few Mallard, 4+ Lt. Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 3 Cormorant, 40 Lapwing,  20 Blk T Godwits, 14 Dunlin, 5 Avocet, 2 Redshank, 1 Common Sand, 1 Snipe, 34 Blk H Gull, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk. RJ/MR et.al.

 

Wed 11th Sept 24

Much the same as yesterday around the bushes a few Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler in the tit flocks plus Common & Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps. Still one Wheatear on the front near the sluice.

From the hide: 140+ Greylags, Mallard, Teal, 7 Shoveler, 4 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Lt. Egret, 44 Lapwing, 28 Blk T Godwits, 4 Avocet, 2 Redshank, 2 Common Sands, 2 Golden Plover (over), 1 Snipe, 1 Knot, 50+ Blk H Gulls, 3+ Buzzard, 1 Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 4 House Martin & a couple of Swallows RJ/MR et.al.

 

Tues 10th Sept 24

Very windy around the bushes this morning just the normal Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap & Whitethroats etc. and just a single Wheatear on the front near the sluice.

From the hide: 100+ Greylag, Teal, Mallard, 4 Shoveler, 1 Wigeon (over), 3 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret, 60+ Lapwing, 15+ Blk T Godwits, 7 Curlew, 6 Knot, 5 Avocet, 3 Snipe, 2 Redshank, 2 Common Sands, 1 Dunlin, 33 Blk H Gulls, 1 LBB, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. RJ/MR

 

Mon 9th Sept 24

The Spotted Flycatcher from yesterday was still around the sewage works gates this morning but elusive, several Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap Lesser & Common Whitethroats were around the Dell and behind the sluice, plus 4 Wheatear on the front just north of the sluice.

From the hide: 120+ Greylags, Mallard, Teal, 7 Shoveler, 1 Wigeon, 5 Cormorant, 4 Grey Heron, 76 Lapwing, 27 Blk T Godwit, 5 Common Sands, 5 Snipe, 3 Avocet, 2 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 1 Green Sand, 1 Ruff, 64 Blk H Gulls, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hobby, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MO'H/MR

Reports from today

Paul Brayshaw

07:12 Early run through the haven site and back from Frinton (starting pre dawn) - possible influx of Wheatear with 4+ on the way back and then a further 4 on Frinton Beach in the drizzle. Turnstone on the sluice, Heron south offshore.

 

Sun 8th Sept 24

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

09:28 Spot Fly, sewage works entrance gate @ HH

Matt Turner

13:17 HH: quick scan of scrape from pillbox Common Sand, Common Snipe and a juv Ruff. Wheatear on pillbox as I approached.

 

Sat 7th Sept 24

Reports from today

Shirley

11:05 2 Whinchat in hedge 100yds north of hide.

Paul Brayshaw

16:56 Redstart along the track from Frinton tennis club alongside the gc (dusky warbler location).

17:25 At least 35 Wheatear and 6 Whinchat (max single scan) on bridlepath fields north of gc.

18:10 Additional bits from a slight longer duration but shorter distance covered around the gc - 20+ Chiff, 4 Willow, 6 Lesser White, 2 Yellow Wag and a further two Whinchat near the raised tee. Wheatear watching was an absolute treat!

 

Fri 6th Sept 24

From the hide: 120+ Greylags, 40+ Teal, Mallard, 14 Shoveler, 4 Cormorant (+13 over), 4 grey Heron, 2 Lt. Egret, 82 Lapwing, 15+ Blk T Godwits, 4 Avocet, 2 Common Sands, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Redshank, 1 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 46 Blk H Gulls, 2 LBB, 2 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, plus a few Swallows. RJ/M'OH/MR.  

Reports from today

Simon Cox

08:34 Whinchat near reed bed ringing site. Passage of Red Admirals.

Mike O'Hanlon

10:58 2 Whinchats on the marsh opposite French point

 

Thurs 5th Sept 24

From the hide: 154 Greylag, Mallard, c40 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 1 Pintail, 4 Cormorant, 4 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret, 26 Lapwing, 8 Blk T Godwits, 2 Common Sands, 1 Ruff, 1 Green Sand, 1 Redshank, 37 Blk H Gulls, 2 LBB, RJ/MR/ et.al.

3 Sandwich Tern headed north from the sluice on the way back.

Reports from today

Pete Loud

10:32 Arctic Skua south mid range to close in.

16:28 Seawatch from the Haven wasn’t very productive today, 1 Adult Arctic Skua south and then the same bird I think a couple of hours later north, a few Sandwich Terns north and 3 Common Terns north, just 4 Gannets all south, 4 Golden Plover and a few Wigeon. Missed the Velvet I think it must have passed when we were looking at the Skua.

Richard Jeffree

11:31 Ruff and Redshank just appeared on scrape

Mike O'Hanlon

12:24 Arctic skua heading north mid range from Haven.

 

Wed 4th Sept 24

A few more birds around the bushes this morning with Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Lesser & Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and all the local Tits noted, plus masses of hirundines. 

Loads of Swallows & House Martins plus a few Sand Martin and a single Swift were on the move, but the high point of the morning was watching two Hobby attacking these flocks, at first offshore from the sailing club then moving inland over the carpark, working together their flying was spectacular if (as far as we could tell) unsuccessful. RJ/MR.

From the hide: 110 Greylag, c60 Teal, Mallard, 10+ Shoveler, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, 1 Lt. Egret, 45 Lapwing, 14 Blk T Godwit, 4 Avocet, 3 Common Sands, 1 Redshank, 1 Ruff, 3 Buzzard, 1 Hobby, 1 Red Kite, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MO'H/MR.

Reports from today

Brian Combes

07:08 Ruff on scrape.

10:39 3 Whinchat half way down bridleway in the ‘hedge’ by 90 degree bend in path.

17:33 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via farm this morning included: 3 Whinchat, 10 Wheatear (2 on the sea defences, 1 by scrape, 4 in pumpkin field, 3+ with whinchat), 1 Ruff (juv), 2 Greenshank, 1 Grey Wag (south), 3 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiff, 3 Blackcap, 8 Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Yellow Wag, 275+ Swallow (south), 130+ House Martin (south), 30+ Sand Martin (south), 2 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Grey Heron, 30+ Lapwing, 1 Mute Swan, 18 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Hobby (south), 3 Green Woodpecker (juvs together), 12 Linnet, 4 Sandwich Tern, 15 Curlew, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 5 Cetti’s Warbler (singing).

Photo Brian Combes©

Two (of three) juvenile green woodpeckers, presumably siblings. These two birds were acting in a truly remarkable way; facing each other they were, in unison, bobbing up and down and moving their heads from side to side, eventually touching bills. This went on for a couple of minutes. Not seen this behaviour before but I vaguely remember reading that adult males, on rare occasions, use such a ‘dance’ in territorial disputes? These two birds were males so perhaps practising this antagonistic behaviour?

 

Tues 3rd Sept 24

From the hide: c120 Greylag, Mallard, 60+ Teal, 14 Shoveler, 5 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron (one of which had a large Water Vole as a mid morning snack), 1 Lt. Egret, 11 Lapwing, 9 Blk T Godwits, 3 Avocet, 2 Lt. Stint, 2 Redshank, 2 Green Sands, 1 Common Sand, 1 Snipe, 5 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MR/LH et.al. 

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

10:01 2 Little Stints back of scrape.

Pete Loud

13:45 2 Little Stint still at back of Scrape, but little else, 2 Avocet, 2 Blackwit, 6 Lapwing and 1 Common Sand. 

 

Mon 2nd Sept 24

From the hide: 118 Greylag, 7 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret, Mallard & Teal, 45 Lapwing, 10 Blk. T Godwit, 4 Curlew, 4 Avocet, 3 greenshank, 2 Common Sands, 1 Snipe, 30+ Blk H Gulls, 1 Common Gull. 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Tree Sparrow, plus a steady movement of Swallow and House Martin DP/RJ/MR

Reports from today

Dennis Pryor

10:52 Tree Sparrow. Bramble bush left of hide.

Richard Jeffree

14:40 6+ Wheatear manure heap adj. field bridleway.

Mike O'Hanlon

17:03 Whinchat by the GC dump.

 

Sun 1st Set 24

Report from today

Matt Lonsdale

09:20 Merlin on arable above hide.

Richard Jeffree

18:35 A juv Sanderling was near the sluice this evening.