Tues 30th June 26

Another nice morning with some cloud cover but at least 3 possibly 5 Marbled White butterflies were seen over the meadow this morning also noted were Gatekeeper, Meadow Browns, Small & Essex Skippers, Small White, Green-veined White, Small Heath, Painted Lady.

From the hide: 31 Blk H Gulls, 1 Med Gull, 1 Common Gull, 2 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 11 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Mallard (with 6 ducklings). 2 Pied Wags, 1 Cetti's Warbler. RJ/MR

Reports from today

Brian Combes

16:15 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via the farm this morning included: 1 house martin (feeding over Frinton Greensward with swallows; no birds at the colony on Esplanade, which was still being used last year - as with the colony on Old Hall Lane at The Naze (sadly this reflects the state of the UK population which has halved since the turn of the millennium, with even more severe declines in the S and SE), 9 swift (1 south, 8 over farm drifting south), 1 corn bunting (singing, bridleway), 1 cuckoo (singing), 40 swallow, 21 pied wag (mainly juvs), 70+ starling, 10 linnet, 3 oystercatcher (south), 5 reed warbler (singing), 2 reed bunting (singing), 2 sedge warbler (singing), 9 whitethroat (singing), 5 chiff (singing), 3 blackcap (singing), 1 Cetti’s (singing), 1 song thrush (singing), 2 med gull (1 south, 1 north), 1 curlew, 1 buzzard.

At the end of June the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 142.

 

Mon 29th June 26

No water on the scrape again today, and just the few birds in Pete's report below. 

Most of the morning was spent trying to re-find Mike's Marbled White (without success for me) but as the well known law dictates Mike & Richard had a second on the way back from the Frinton end later in the morning. 

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

10:02 Marbled White on path to the hide from sluice

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Pete Loud

11:20 From the hide this morning 1 Curlew, 17 Lapwing plus large chick, lots of of Butterflies about, my first Gatekeeper couple of Painted Lady’s and all the other common species.

Photo Pete Loud©

 

Sun 28th June 26

Not much water today with the lack of wind over the last couple of days but still a few birds around

From the hide: 30+ Blk H Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 1 Med Gull, 1 LBB, 15 Curlew, 14 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Heron, 6+ Pied Wags, 2 Mallard (+ 6 ducklings on the pond), a few Swallows and a steady movement of Swifts south. PL/RJ/MO'H/TR/MR

 

Sat 27th June 26

Reports from today

Pete Loud

10:49 Very pleasant out this morning nice and cool, but by 10 o’clock the sun was coming out and with the heat and humidity rising it was time to go home. From the hide,18 Black-headed Gull, including 2 juveniles, unfortunately not fledged from the Haven, but wouldn’t have come from far away, possibly the backwaters or the Colne.10 Lapwing on the marsh including 1 large chick, 1 Oystercatcher also, 16 Curlew flew in to join one other on the marsh behind the pond disturbed from behind the raised platform by the Stockman checking on his Cows, the Mallard on the pond  has 7 ducklings, down from 10 a week or so ago. The light Swift passage continues this morning with about 25 passing through, on the brook behind the sluice was a Canada Goose family with about 8 fully grown juveniles, presumably the ones fledged earlier in the spring, having sought out sanctuary in the brook after the scrape dried up. just a tiny amount of water on the scrape, but with no wind today the wind pump is not turning although that should soon change, you don’t get many days at the Haven with no wind. On the Butterfly front, lots of Small Whites,and quite a lot of Meadow Brown, but a real abundance of Small Skippers, one each of Red  Admiral, Holly Blue & Small Heath.

 

Fri 26th June 26

Very, very warm out this morning, amazingly even more water on the scrape than yesterday but as there was not enough wind to turn the pump this morning that could change.

From the hide: 21 Blk H Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 2 Med Gulls (1 colour ringed), 1 Grey Heron, 5 Lapwing, 2 Curlew, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Shelduck, 1 Mallard, 9+ Pied Wags.

 

Thurs 25th June 26

Great news this morning, there was water on the scrape, not a lot but it's a start, work has been carried out on the windpump and it is now up and running and managing to make a difference even in the current weather conditions, fingers crossed for a steady improvement.

From the hide: 11 Blk H Gulls, 9 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher, 6 Med Gulls (over), 7 Pied Wags, 1 Buzzard, 5+ Swallows, Linnet, Reed Bunting, Skylark, Reed Warbler.

 

Wed 24th June 26

No reports received so far.

 

Tues 23rd June 26

No reports received so far.

 

Mon 22nd June 26

No reports received so far.

 

Sun 21st June 26

Reports from today

Pete Loud

13:16 Late morning at the haven, from the hide, a recently fledged brood of Cetti’s Warblers in front of the hide being very vocal, on the pond delightful views of a Kingfisher hovering a couple of metres above the water to then plunge in to the surface, a Mallard had brood of 10 small ducklings, still 10 Lapwing and a single Oystercatcher on the marsh. Sadly still no water on the scrape, but I gather wheels are in motion to get that rectified. On walk back to car, couple of Painted Lady Butterflies and a few Holly Blues, Meadow Browns and Small Heath. A few Emperor dragonflies on the wing now.

 

Sat 20th June 26

No reports received so far

 

Fri 19th June 26

A first for the site and for me today with a Bright Wave moth (a Red Data Book species). found at TM221175 around midday

Reports from today

Pete Loud

14:02 Quick visit to the Haven mid morning. 2 Curlew flew south along the hedge line at the back of the scrape, 15 Lapwing on the marsh including 2 fully grown juveniles, good to know at least a couple of Lapwings have survived to adulthood. A few Swifts were trickling through, heading south, probably a few non breeders leaving already. A few Meadow Browns and still lots of Small Heaths and many five spot Burnet moths in the grass north of the Pillbox.

Photo Mick Rodwell©

 

Thurs 18th June 26

Reports from today

Pete Loud

15:50 Pyramidal Orchid at the Haven this afternoon, pretty close to where one was dug up a couple of years ago, let’s hope this one doesn’t suffer the same fate, although not holding my breath it is very close to the coast path.

Photo Pete Loud©

 

Wed 17th June 26

No reports received so far

 

Tues 16th June 26

Just the normal bits and pieces around the bushes today, the first Wasp Spider of the year was a bonus along with a few butterflies.

 

Mon 15th June 26

Reports from today.

Richard Jeffree

15:30 10 Med Gulls on sea south of Frinton beach huts, (1 adult, 3 2nd summers, and 6 1st summers).

 

Sun 14th June 26

Still lots of young birds around this morning, including a Gt. Spotted Woodpecker feeding a youngster. The first Small Skipper butterfly and 5 spot Burnet Moth were also seen with the increased sunshine. RJ/MO'H/MR

 

Sat 13th June 26

No reports received so far.

 

Fri 12th June 26

A little better weather today and lots of young birds around the bushes, a Green Hairstreak butterfly was still hanging on over the road along with a few Holly Blues & Speckled Woods.

From the hide: 8 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Blk H Gulls, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Linnets, 1 Reed Warbler 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel.

 

Thurs 11th June 26

All nice and tidy in the hide this morning (thanks Tom), but still no water and very few birds, 4 Lapwing, 3 Shelduck, 3 Mallard, 2 Oystercatcher, a few Swallows over the arable a Buzzard and a Kestrel. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR.

 

Wed 10th June 26

No reports received so far.

 

Tues 9th June 26

Our visit to the hide was very short today as some kind soul had decided to have a bonfire on the seating. Once again you ask the question "WHY"

 

Mon 8th June 26

We had a short visit to the hide this morning, with a few Swallows & House Martin around it was not a great surprise to see a Hobby over the arable, otherwise 9 Shelduck, 7 Mallard, 1 Gadwall, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Blk H Gulls, 2 Buzzard, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Linnet & Pied Wag was about it. RJ/MO'H/MR.

 

Sun 7th June 26

No reports received so far.

 

Sat 6th June 26

Reports from today

Laurence Drumond

O6.45 to 09.45 from the Shelter...17 Shelduck (3 juvs), 4 C. Scoter, 2 Fulmar, 1 Gannett (4yr), 3 Kittiwake, 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 mystery...possibly a dark phase Arctic Skua.

 

Fri 5th June 26

Reports from today

Pete Loud

13:09 No rain today so thought I would go out for a walk and some fresh air, still sadly no water on the scrape, so no birds, luckily there is water in the pond, so at least a few ducks were enjoying a rather scarce commodity at the Haven at present, a pair of Shoveler, 1 Gadwall, 8 Shelduck & a single Mallard. A pair of Lapwing were still defending an almost fully grown chick out on the marsh which will probably be the only likely fledgling of an absolutely disastrous breeding year for ducks and waders at the Haven. Let’s hope we can get some water out there soon, much cooler today which was good for a walk but not so good for Butterflies although Common Blue and Painted Lady were noted.

 

Thurs 4th June 26

No reports received so far.

 

Wed 3rd June 26

A strong wind and showers again today but not yet enough to make a difference on the scrape, no sign of the Avocets this morning just a few Mallard, 2 Lapwing and a couple of Swallows over the arable, otherwise dire. RJ/MO'H/MR.

 

Tues 2nd June 26

We had a short visit to the hide this morning between the showers, the Avocet chick was still doing well with two very attentive adults close bye, otherwise much the same, 4+ Lapwings, 4 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 1 Gadwall, 5 Blk H Gulls, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard. RJ/MO'H/MR

 

Mon 1st June 26

Another very nice morning for a walk, most of the usual Whitethroat, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaffs around and the Lesser Whitethroats seem to be back in song again, a few families of Blue Tit, Gt. Tit and L T Tit were around the bushes and the 2 Juv. Grey Wags were still in the Boating Club compound.

A walk to the hide for a sit down paid dividends, as the last small pool of water in the extension to Leon's Marsh held a pair of Avocet with a single chick, still a long way from fledging but fingers crossed

From the hide: 4 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 1 Gadwall, 4 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Blk H Gulls, 1 Med Gull, 3 Swallows, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. PL/RJ/MR

 

Sun 31st May 26

No reports received so far.

At the end of May the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 142.