Sat 21st Dec 24

Cold and windy again today and all very much the same.

From the hide: c 900 Brent on the arable over the road before being flushed by the two Peregrines that had been sitting on the stubble field towards Gt. Holland earlier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, c20 Greylag, c300 Wigeon, c300 Teal, 7 Shoveler, 7 Mallard, c200 Lapwing, 12 Curlew. RJ/MO'H/MR

 

Fri 20th Dec 24

No reports received so far.

 

Thurs 19th Dec 24

A Caspian Gull on the sluice rocks was a good start to the morning and 3 Bearded Tits that flew to the island and spent a while feeding on the ground out in the open wasn't a bad finish

From the hide: c150 Brent, c150 Greylags, c300 Teal, c300 Wigeon, 9 Shoveler, 7 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, c200 Lapwing, 12 Curlew, 3 Blk T Godwit, 2 Snipe, 3 Bearded Tit, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard. RJ/MR

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

10:19 3rd yr. Caspian on the sluice.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Leon Woodrow

14:25 Just down the back hedge and flushed a Woodcock, first I have seen down here.

 

Wed 18th Dec 24

Reports from today

Paul Everett

16:38 Holland Haven this morning, 38 Greylag, 192 Wigeon, 94+ Lapwing, 42 B H Gull, 2 Common Gull, 11 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel , 76 Teal, 4 Shelduck, 5 Shoveler, 13 D B Brent flew over scrape. 5 Cormorant, 10+ Starling, 5 Carrion Crow, 7 Magpie, 3 Moorhen, 1 Grey Heron.

 

Tues 17th Dec 24

From the hide: c600 Brent (on the arable), c100 Greylag, 14 Canada Geese (plus the hybrids), c200 Teal, c200 Wigeon, 11 Shoveler, 7 Mallard, c200 Lapwing, 13 Curlew, 2 Snipe, 1 Lt. Grebe, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl (in owl box),  

Mike O'Hanlon

11:53 5 Purple Sandpipers on rocks 200m south of raised tee.

 

Mon 16th Dec 24

Just a short afternoon visit for me today. From the pillbox, c350 Brent up on the arable, c250 Greylags, 20+ Canada Geese (plus the hybrid family), c350 Teal, c200 Wigeon,11 Shoveler, 70+ Lapwing, 18 Curlew, 1 Barn Owl. 1 Turnstone on the sluice on the way to the car. 

Reports from today

Pete Loud

14:24 Walk to Raised Tee and back along the seawall this morning, 4 Purple Sandpipers, 1 Rock Pipit, and offshore 12 Common Scoter flying south. Fairly quiet as you would expect for this time of year.

 

Sun 15th Dec 24

No reports received so far.

 

Sat 14th Dec 24

Reports from today

Simon Cox

12:20 2 grey geese separate from Greylags look good for tundra beans but not showing well at the moment (from hide looking right).

12:29 Now 3.

14:01 In fact I think Pink-feet tho’ initially legs glimpsed & looked orange.

14:06 Mantles have greyish tinge.

Photo Simon Cox©

 

Fri 13th Dec 24

Very low light levels and little wind this morning made things a bit strange over the marsh, even the Teal were almost silent for most of the time.

From the hide: c300 Teal, c150 Wigeon, 15 Shoveler, 10 Mallard, 150+ Lapwing, 2 Blk T Godwit, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 5 Blackbird, 1 Fieldfare. A few groups of Brent were flying around c150 but not sure where they were feeding. RJ/MO'H/MR

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

13:40 3 Purple Sands this morning between sandy point and raised tee though 6 reported by other birders and a lone bird by the sluice on return leg.

Pete Loud

16:15 Late evening walk to French Point, a Barn Owl was briefly hunting the marsh directly behind the Scrape, 400 Brent  headed off north along the coast to their roost  and 5 Purple Sandpipers and a Sanderling were on the beach immediately north of the Sluice.

 

Thurs 12th Dec 24

Much the same again this morning, a pair of Stonechat were out on the Boating Club rocks on my way to the hide and Richard had another 2 pairs on the way to French Point.

From the hide: c600 Brent were seen dropping onto the arable over the road probably more out of view, c300 Teal, c100 Wigeon, 20 Shoveler, 2 Mallard, 1 Lt Grebe, c200 Lapwing, 5 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MO'H/MR.

 

 

Wed 11th Dec 24

All much the same this morning, Brent up to 900+ on the arable beside the chippings lay-by, lots of gulls, 5 Curlew & 5 Blk T Godwits on the approach road marsh.

From the hide: c350 Teal, c150 Wigeon, 14 Shoveler, 100+ Lapwing, 1 Avocet, 1 Snipe, 1 Red Kite, 1 Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl (in box at back of scrape). RJ/MO'H/MR

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

11:02 7 Curlews and 2 Blackwits in flooded field alongside Haven approach road.

11:56 4 Purple Sandpipers on beach and a great crested grebe off the tip of French Point.

12:25 Now 6 Purps.

Peter Loud

12:18 1 Sanderling and 2 Turnstone joined the 4 Purples on the beach north of French Point.

Brian Combes

17:54 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back along seawall this morning included: 6+ purple sandpiper (6 together on rocks south of French Point first thing, later, 1 east of the raised tee was possibly an additional bird), 4 eider (north), 1 redwing (over), 4 turnstone, 1 stonechat, 1 med gull (north), 1 water rail (calling, Frinton end), 2 Cetti’s (singing), 2 shelduck (north), 3 curlew (south), 100+ starling (feeding on golf course), 288+ brent (38 north, 250+ on scrape), 1 Chinese muntjac, 1 buzzard, 1 marsh harrier, 250+ teal, 12+ shoveler, 100+ wigeon, 1 hare (ran east to west across the golf course at dawn - lovely)

 

Tues 10th Dec 24

The marsh alongside the approach road was almost completely flooded this morning and held lots of gulls, 20+ Mallard, 7 Curlew, 5 Blk T Godwits and 6 Pied Wags. A single Purple Sand was on the beach briefly before flying to the back of the sluice rocks on the way to the hide. 

From the hide: 350+ Teal, 100+ Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, 150 + Lapwing, 1 Blk T Godwit, 1 Avocet, 1 Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kingfisher. PL/MR

Reports from today

Laurence Drumond

08:15 Shag on the sea off Haven shelter

09:49 Little Auk north past shelter.

12:53 Seawatch from the shelter 07.30-11.15 , 2 Eider , 2 C Scoter,  3 Pintail, 6 R T Diver 1-2 B T Diver ,1 Shag, 1 Barwit, 1 Med Gull, 1 Little Auk.

 

Mon 9th Dec 24

Slightly less wind today but still cold and damp. A single Purple Sand and a Sanderling were on the beach just north of the sluice on my way to the hide this morning.

From the hide: c 500 Brent were up on the arable with c100 Lapwing, on the scrape, 2 Greylag, similar numbers of Teal & Wigeon, 7 Shoveler, 30 Lapwing, 2 Avocet, 1 Blk T Godwit, 8 Curlew were on the marsh to the right and a Peregrine was on the arable toward Gt. Holland DC/MO'H/MR plus Dave Cummings had the Kingfisher fishing over the pond earlier. 

Reports from today

Graham Sutton

10:41 7 Eider on sea off shelter.

12:23 Seawatch from shelter 0930-1130 very quiet. As well as the Eiders, 3 Common Scoter N, 5 RT Diver S, 1 Med Gull N.

Mike O'Hanlon

11:18 Sanderling and Purp still on beach by sluice.

Sun 8th Dec 24

Cold and very windy again this morning, around 600 Brent were up on the arable along with c 120 Lapwing and a few gulls and starling, on the scrape c300 Teal, 40 Wigeon, 9 Shoveler, a further 20 Lapwing and 1 Avocet were huddled in tight groups to gain some shelter from the wind.

 

Sat 7th Dec 24

No reports received so far.

 

Fri 6th Dec 24

Very chilly this morning with a brisk breeze.

From the hide: c600 Brent (up on the arable), c150 Greylag, c250 Teal, c100 Wigeon, 5 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 100+ Lapwing, 3 Blk T Godwits, 3 Curlew, 2 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher,1 Bearded Tit (RJ), 1 Red Kite (RJ), 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard. RJ/MO'H/MR

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Reports from today:

Richard Jeffree

09:41 Male Bearded Tit flew to island.

10:08 Red Kite distantly over road.

 

Thurs 5th Dec 24

From the hide: 700-800 Brent (up on the arable), 1 Greylag, 220 Teal, c100 Wigeon, 6 Mallard, 5 Shoveler, 100+ Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 2 Avocet, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kingfisher. Plus 1 Purple Sand on the sluice rocks.  RJ/MO'H/MR

 

Wed 4th Dec 24

Just a short visit today, c100 Greylag, 14+ Canada Geese, and 2 Pink-footed Geese were over the road from the chippings lay-by, 40 Brent were sitting on the sea just off the sluice and a single Lt. Grebe was fishing on the brook behind the sluice.

From the hide: All much the same, 5 Blk T Godwit were new, lots of Wigeon and Teal, 9 Curlew, the Kingfisher fishing around the pond and the Water Rail in front of the hide. RJ/MO'H/MR.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

 

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

11:35 Water Rail in ditch to left of hide.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

11:46 Kingfisher feeding over pond to right of hide.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Richard Jeffree

15:23 3 Purple Sands on rocks adjacent GC dump.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

 

Tues 3rd Dec 24

Very quiet on a walk to Sandy Point this morning, just 2 Mipit's, 2 Stonechat and half a dozen Cormorant offshore.

From the hide: 160 Teal, 82 Wigeon, 5 Shoveler, 18 Lapwing, 10+ Curlew, 2 Avocet, 1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Cetti's Warbler, MR. Plus 1 Kingfisher (seen earlier).

 

Mon 2nd Dec 24

From the Chippings Lay-by on the way to site, c40 Canada Geese, 25 Greylag, Wigeon, Teal, 2 Lt. Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 6 Reed Buntings.

A walk to Sandy Pt and back gave 2 Purple Sands on the rocks south of Sandy Pt, 6 Mipit's, 4 Stonechat, 1 Rock Pipit and 125 Brent heading south offshore before joining the c600 up on the arable.

From the hide: c150 Wigeon, 70 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, c100 Lapwing, 7 Curlew, 4 Blk T Godwit, 1 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Peregrine, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, MO'H/MR 

Mike O'Hanlon

11:18 Purple Sandpiper on the sluice.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

 

Sun 1st Dec 24

A very gloomy morning, still 800-1000 Brent up on the arable with c80 Lapwings and 20+ Stock Doves. Just a couple of Greylags on the scrape but more around the marsh.

From the hide, 130+ Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 7 Shoveler, 20 Lapwing, 7 Curlew, 2 Avocet, 1 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Cetti's Warbler, Bearded Tits (heard only), 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard.