Sun 30th Nov 25

Although the outside temperature was 5degs this morning (according to my car) the wind made it feel like -5 out of the sun.

On the way to the hide 2 pairs of Stonechat were on the front just north of the sluice and a Lt. Grebe was on the brook.

From the hide: 50+ Greylag, c100 Wigeon, c80 Teal, 9 Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, 150+ Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 20 Blk H Gulls, 3 Herring Gulls, 1 GBB, 6 Skylark, 1 Pied Wag, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MO'H/MR

At the end of November the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 173.

 

Sat 29th Nov 25

A very quick visit to the hide this morning before the rain set in showed things looked very much the same as yesterday. RJ/MO'H/MR

 

 

Fri 28th Nov 25

From the hide: c200 Brent (over), c110 Teal, c100 Wigeon, 9 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 150 Lapwing, 2 Curlew, 1 Blk T Godwit, 1 Avocet, 2 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MO'H/DC/BH/MR

A walk to French Pt added 2 Purple Sands on the point rocks and a pair of Stonechat along the front. BH/MR

 

Thurs 27th Nov 25

Reports from today

Pete Loud

12:25 Noticeably milder out this morning and light winds that made for a pleasant walk, but not much to report on the bird front, been very quiet of late, 1 Purple Sand was on the Sluice and a few Mippits along the front. 40 Wigeon from the chippings lay by over the road flying about. From the hide, 80 Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 7 Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, 1 Snipe & 1 Curlew, 80 Lapwing.

 

Wed 26th Nov 25

On the way to the hide the 2 Purple Sands & 2 Turnstone were on the sluice where they stayed for most of the morning, and a Lt. Grebe way on the brook behind the sluice.

From the hide: 35 Greylags (plus 1 hybrid),54 Teal, 38 Wigeon, 18 Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, 21+ Golden Plover (on the arable), 10 Lapwings, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Goldcrest (just inside the gate). MO'H/TR/MR

 

Tues 25th Nov 25

2 Purple Sands and a Turnstone were on the sluice at the start of our walk to Sandy Pt. this morning, unfortunately a few Meadow Pipit and a couple of Stonechat were all we added before returning to the hide

From the hide: 35 Greylag (plus 1 hybrid), 180 Teal, 17 Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, 4 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, c30 Lapwing, 1 Blk T Godwit, 13 Blk H Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel.

On the way out Richard picked up 2 Grey Wagtails at the back of the sluice, the 2 Purple Sands were still on the sluice and a Redshank flew through calling and landed on the rocks around French Pt. PL/RJ/MO'H/BH/MR.

Unfortunately I had just left site when Richard had a Raven fly over the carpark.

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

10:15 2 Purple Sandpipers on the sluice.

12:58 2 Grey Wagtail behind the Sluice this morning.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Richard Jeffree

12:21 Raven over carpark

Photo Richard Jeffree©
Raven from this morning still a scarce bird over the Haven.

 

Mon 24th Nov 25

Nice to have a morning with no wind, a short while of misty rain but mostly dry. A walk along the front gave 2 Turnstone and 2 Purple Sands on the sluice and by the time we reached Sandy Pt.  Purps were up to 5+, also Rock Pipit & 6+ Meadow Pipit, on the return through the reedbed we added 6+ Stonechat, several Reed Bunting and a few more Mipits.

From the hide: 180+ Teal, 12 Shoveler, 9 Wigeon, 2 Shelduck, 4 Mallard, c20 Lapwing, 1 Avocet, a few Blk Headed & Herring Gulls. RJ/MO'H/MR.

 

Sun 23rd Nov 25

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

12:53 Short visit to the Haven once the rain stopped, wind dropped and sun came out didn't produce a lot from the hide, 16 Widgeon, 8 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, B H Gulls, 2 LBB, 12 Herring. Big walk to sandy point didn't offer much just a couple of Mipits and Pied Wags again no sign of Snow Buntings, nice walk finished by a Little Grebe in the brook.

Mike O'Hanlon

15:14 Afternoon visit to Haven. Very quiet with just 125 Teal, 26 Wigeon, 2 Shelduck, 8 Shovelers, 2 Lapwing, 1 Kestrel, 2 Mallard from the Hide. 3 Turnstones on the Sluice. 5 Purple sandpipers just south of French Point.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

15:40 Plus a 6th Purp north of Sandy point and a pair of Stonechats by Raised Tee on golf course.

 

Sat 22nd Nov 25

No sign of the Snow Buntings this morning, Pete & Richard had a short seawatch which produced just one Com. Scoter and a couple of Gannets and a on a walk along the front added 5 Purple Sands and a Stonechat.

From the hide: 26 Wigeon, 20+ Teal, 19 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 77+ Golden Plover (on the arable), 6 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher, 25 Blk H Gulls, 8 Herring Gulls, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. MR.

Reports from today

Pete Loud

14:43  A short seawatch this morning proved very unproductive with just 2 Gannet north and a Common Scoter south. A walk up to the raised Tee showed that the 2 Snow Bunting had moved on, but 5 Purple Sandpipers were on the rocks just south of French point showing that they seem to have now settled in for the winter.1 Stonechat was up by the raised Tee. A look on the marsh on the other side of the road on the way home, revealed very little apart from a flock of 25 Canada Geese.(RJ, PL).

 

Fri 21st Nov 25

A walk along the front this morning found 2 Turnstone on the sluice, 4+ Purple Sands on the rocks south of French Pt. and the 2 Snow Buntings were on the track below Sandy Pt late morning, also noted Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Stonechat and Pied Wags. JS/MR et.al.

Reports from today

Brian Combs

07:36 Haven: 2 Snow Buntings still by golf course dump.

Photo Brian Combes©

Photo Brian Combes©

16:49 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back along seawall this morning included: 2 Snow Bunting, 1 Rock Pipit (sea defences), 1 Chiff, 3 Siskin (north), 7 Goldfinch (north), 210+ Starling (in-off; smallest group 5, largest 70+), 5 Song Thrush (1 in subsong), 24 Blackbird, 2 Mute Swan (south over the sea), 3 Reed Bunting, 7 Mipit, 3 Cetti’s (singing), 12 Shoveler, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Linnet, 3 Chaffinch, 2 Greenfinch, 3 Turnstone, 3 Stonechat. 

Walk to the farm this afternoon added: 4 Goldcrest, 1 Chiff, 30+ Skylark, 20+ Mipit, 30+ Linnet.

Richard Jeffree

09:36 4 Purps on rocks south of French Pt.

 

Thurs 20th Nov 25

Another very chilly morning but nice in the sun, Richard relocated the Snow Buntings this morning and also had a Woodcock In off, Pete Loud added a couple of Stonechat along the front and I had 5 Purple Sands on the rocks south of French Point. 2 Turnstone were on the sluice and not a lot on the scrape

From the hide: 2 Teal, 1 Wigeon, c130 Golden Plover & 30 Lapwing (up on the arable), 20 Blk H Gull, 3 Herring Gull, 1 Water Rail. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

10:00 1 Snow Bunting still on track below seawall halfway between French Pt. and Sandy Pt., make that 2.

Mike O'Hanlon

11:33 2 Purple Sandpiper on the sluice.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Water Rail from the hide this morning

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

This morning’s Snow Buntings

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

 

Wed 19th Nov 25

Reports from today

Pete Loud

13:17 2 hour seawatch up to 12pm,pretty slow going, but wasn’t much else to do out of the rain. 1 Woodcock in off, 1 Shag south, 1 Red t Diver, lots of groups of Common Scoter, over 100 in total, 1 Little Egret.

Laurence Drumond

13:51 Plus 2 R B Merganser before 9.00.

Richard Jeffree

15:41 2 Snow Buntings, bluethroat trail both look like females.

 

Tues 18th Nov 25

The temperature was only around 3 deg. this morning but it felt even colder with a steady breeze, no sign of the Snow Bunting this morning, or anything else of note along the front.

From the hide: 30 Greylags, 40+ Teal, 10+ Wigeon, 9 Shoveler, 4 Shelduck, 2 Goosander (fly-over late morning), 100+ Lapwing, 3 Golden Plover, 1 Snipe, 32 Blk H Gulls, 5 Herring Gulls, 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel. PL/RJ/TR/MR.

 

Mon 17th Nov 25

Just after arriving at the hide the report from Richard of a Snow Bunting along the front had me on the move, I joined Richard & Mike and the stunning little bird was showing down to 6 feet at times, feeding on the inside face of the seawall it was only flushed when cyclist's passed at speed, returning very quickly to feed between the grasses.

Mike and Richard had already had 2 Razorbills offshore on their way down to French Pt. and as we walked back the Short-eared Owl that had come in off the Sea passed over our heads, not a bad morning.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

From the hide: 160+ Teal, 20+ Wigeon, 5 Shoveler, 4 Shelduck, 80+ Lapwing, 11 Golden Plover, 1 Avocet, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, RJ/MO'H/MR et.al.

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

10:24 Snow Bunting seawall north French Pt.

Laurence Drumond

11:05 Merlin in-off shelter.

11:24 SEO in-off shelter..

12:49 Little Auk south past shelter.

 

Sun16th Nov 25

Reports from today

Graham Sutton

08:03 From shelter - 1 Little Gull & 2 Little Auks N in last 10 minutes.

08:36 Prob BTD now on sea distantly off shelter

10:57 Haven 0730-0945: Brent 220 S  130N, Wigeon 12N, Teal 25S 8N, C Scoter 15N, RB Merganser 1N, RT Diver 1N, Little Gull 1N ad, Med Gull 1N ad, Little Auk 2N, Dunlin 34N, Purple Sand 1N, Turnstone 8N, Grey Plover 3N, Ringed Plover 28N, Swallow 1.

Richard Jeffree

09:55 S E Owl tracking north close in

Pete Loud

13:08 Hour seawatch ending at 11am,1 SEO in off, later over carpark just south of Sewage works,1 Great cr. Grebe, 2 or 3 groups of Starlings in off. 1 Swallow feeding along the prom in front of shelter, later 2 Swallows feeding by the Sluice .Walk to Raised Tee 5 or 6 Purple Sandpipers, 5 Turnstone, 1 Rock Pipit & 1 Curlew north.(RJ,PL).

Matt Lonsdale

13:15 In addition In/ around bushes- Single Chiffchaff approach road, double figure of Goldcrest, scattering of Blackbirds and a Redwing. + 2 Pintail N and 4 Scoter S.

 

Sat 15th Nov 25

No reports received so far

 

Fri 14th Nov 25

Not a very nice morning, very wet !, when I arrived Rich, Mike & Dave were just giving up on a fruitless seawatch and as the rain had eased we had a walk along the approach road. Just 3 Goldcrest with a a few tits was all there and a couple more at the entrance to the sewage works was all of note.

Best news of the day was that the new cage around the peanut feeder in the feeding station seems to have got the better of the squirrel, for now anyway.

From the hide:12 Teal, 9 Mallard, 5 Shoveler, 4 Shelduck, c60 Lapwing, 2 Avocet, 8 Blk H Gulls. RJ/MO'H/DC/MR we must all be mad.

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

16:28 Later afternoon walk- Highlight a flock of c80 Dunlin and ringos briefly on seawall just N of French point then flew south. 2 Avocet still on scrape, Rock Pipit. Few Goldcrest, Redwings and a Chiff in bushes.

 

Thurs 13th Nov 25

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

11:54 Single Purple Sandpiper at the end of French Point.

 

Wed 12th Nov 25

Another breezy day and very quiet around the bushes, on route to the hide a Kingfisher flew down the brook from the back of the sluice.

From the hide: 36 Greylag, 2 Canada Geese, 36 Teal, 4 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, c100 Lapwing (split between the scrape and the arable), 1 Avocet, 1 Water Rail, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 3 Goldfinch, Skylark & Meadow Pipits. RJ/BH/MR.

 

Tues 11th Nov 25

Just 3 Goldcrests of note around the bushes and 3 Brent heading south offshore on another windy morning.

From the hide: 41 Greylag, 2 Canada Geese, 11 Teal, 6 Mallard, 5 Shoveler, 3 Shelduck, 2 Wigeon, 110 Lapwings, 1 Avocet, 15 Blk H Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 1 Stonechat, Skylark & Meadow Pipits, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk. SC/PL/RJ/MO'H/MR.

 

Mon 10th Nov 25

A wet and windy morning with nothing much around the bushes.

From the hide: 58 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 4 Shelduck, 3 Wigeon, 2 Mallard, 78 Lapwing, 6 Blk H Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MR

 

Sun 9th Nov 25

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

11:08 From HH hide 10.15 - 11 am (with RJ) 5 Shovelers, 35 Greylag, 10 Wigeon, 50 Lapwing, 4 Shelduck, 1 Snipe, 11 Teal, Cetti’s (heard), Kestrel, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk , Wren.

Richard Jeffree

12:02 1 Purple Sand on rocks between Sandy Pt. and raised tee.

 

Sat 8th Nov 25

No reports received so for

 

Fri 7th Nov 25

A bit of a fall of thrushes today with lots of Redwing and a few Fieldfare, Song Thrush and Blackbird noted, Several Goldcrest around as well plus Blackcap, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and the normal Tit flocks. I didn't get to the hide myself today but apparently all was much the same. A walk to Sandy Point added 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat, a single Purple Sand and 13 Brent (4 on the sea & 9 heading south). PL/RJ/MO'H/DC/TR/MR

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

12:02 Purple Sandpiper at Sandy Point  below the sea wall.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

 

Thurs 6th Nov 25

From the hide: 46 Greylag Geese, 1 Brent Goose, 86 Wigeon, 56 Teal, 13 Shoveler, 4 Shelduck, c150 Lapwing, 80+ Golden Plover (on the arable), 2 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Stonechat, 1 Cetti's Warbler. RJ/BH/MR et.al.

On the way home 3 Goldcrest were around the sewage works gate.

 

Wed 5th Nov 25

Quiet around the bushes this morning, just a few Goldcrest, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Great, Blue & L. T. Tits was about it.

From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 77 Greylag, c60 Wigeon, c50 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 3 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 2 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, c150 Lapwing, 1 Avocet, 20 Blk H Gulls, 3 Stonechat, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk,. RJ/MO'H/MR

Reports from today

Pete Loud

14:52 Walk to Frinton and back along seawall this morning,1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Stonechat, 1 Med Gull, 1 Gannet close offshore north. From the hide early afternoon, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 3 Shoveler, 3 Brent, 3 Stonechat, 2 Swallows & Plenty of Wigeon &Teal.

 

Tues 4th Nov 25

From the hide: 80+ Greylag, c50 Teal, c50 Wigeon, 3 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 2 Mallard, 100+ Lapwing, 2 Blk T Godwit, 2 Snipe, 1 Avocet, 25 Blk H Gulls, 2 Cormorant, 1 Swallow, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk. RJ/MO'H/BH/PB/MR

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

12:00 2 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks just south of Sandy point.

 

Mon 3rd Nov 25

No sign of the Jack Snipe this morning but 3 late House Martins were nice to see in November. Otherwise much the same.

From the hide: 90+ Greylag, c70 Teal, c50 Wigeon, 4 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 150 Lapwing, 1 Avocet, 1 Blk T Godwit, 23 Blk H Gulls, 3 Herring Gulls, 8+ Pied Wags, 3 House Martin, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR.

 

Sun 2nd Nov 25

A new bird for the Site Year List today with a Jack Snipe found by Richard mid morning.

From the hide: c100 Greylag, Teal & Wigeon, 3 Shelduck, 1 Shoveler, 50+ Lapwing, 3 Blk T Godwit, 1 Avocet, 1 Jack Snipe, c30 Blk H Gulls, 2 Pied Wags, Meadow Pipit, Cetti's Warbler, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk. PL/RJ/MO'H/SE/MR

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

1127 Jack Snipe back of scrape (Bobbit corner).

 

Sat 1st Nov 25

No reports received so far.