Wed 23rd Sept 26

From the hide: 150 Greylag, 150+ Teal, 15 Shoveler, 2 Mallard, 5 Cormorant, 60+ Lapwing, 17+ Curlew, 13 Avocet, 2 Blk T Godwits, 22 Blk H Gulls, 1 LBB, 1 Caspian Gull, 10+ Pied Wags, several Meadow Pipits. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR et.al.

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

08:20 Short dog walk over haven this am - 5 grey wag south, light mipit passage + few swallows. Several flocks of teal south offshore + 4 wigeon. Lt egret on scrape, 2 turnstone sluice.

Richard Jeffree

08:25 2 Arctic Skua north

Graham Sutton

11:02 HH shelter 0650-0945, Brent 2S, Mallard 2S , Pintail 8S, Wigeon 484S, Teal 185S, Shoveler 9S, Common Scoter 1S, Grey Heron 6S, Gannet 10N 5S, R T Diver 8N 4S, Whimbrel 1S, Sandwich Tern 58N 32S & distant feeding groups, Common/Arctic Tern ++ & distant feeding groups, Arctic Skua 3 loitering/chasing terns

Mike O'Hanlon

11:48 This Caspian Gull was on the scrape 10 minutes ago.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

 

Tues 22nd Sept 26

Lots more of the every day birds reported around the site today with the calm conditions but nothing out of the ordinary, 6 Sandwich Terns were feeding off the sluice on my way to the hide.

From the hide: 150+ Greylag, 5 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 150+ Teal, 17 Shoveler, 2 Mallard, 50 Lapwing, 7 Curlew, 3 Avocet, 2 Blk T Godwits, 1 Snipe, 24 Blk H Gulls, 2 LBB's, 5+ Pied Wags, 1 Raven, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR.

 

 

Mon 21st Sept 26

From the hide: 138 Greylag, c150 Teal, 10+ Shoveler, 6 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 1 Wigeon, 5 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, c60 Lapwing, 13 Avocet, 3 Blk T Godwits, 3 Snipe, 1 Ruff, 60+ Blk H Gulls2 LBB's, 2 Herring Gulls, 2 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1000+ Swallows, 100+ House Martins, 1 Swift, 1 Kingfisher, 10+ Pied Wags, 1 Wheatear. RJ/TR/MR et.al.

Sun 20th Sept 26

From the hide: 2 Mute Swans, 134 Greylag, c150 Teal, 16+ Shoveler, 6 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, 1 Wigeon, 5 Cormorant, 51 Lapwing, 19 Curlew, 13 Avocet, 4 Blk T Godwits (incl. the colour ringed bird), 3 Snipe, 1 Raven, 1 S E Owl, 1 Hobby, 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 10+ Pied Wags, 6+ Yellow Wags, 2 Wheatear. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR.

Reports from today 

Matt Lonsdale

08:27 SEO offshore from sluice going south.

08:35 Came in/off- was behind sewage works.

Pete Loud

13:35 From the hide this morning,1 Raven, Hobby & Short-eared Owl, 13 Avocet, 6 Yellow Wagtail. Walk back to car park, 4 Clouded Yellow and a Wall Butterfly.(RJ,MR,M O ‘H,PL).

 

Sat 19th Sept 26

Reports from today

Steve Grimwade

07:33 Hobby in off at Frinton and south over golf course at 7.30am

Matt Lonsdale

07:35 No sign of Osprey HH but Arctic skua south.

Pete Loud

10:22 Another rather disappointing seawatch from the shelter this morning 8-10 am, 1 Gannet north, Hobby south, 7 Sandwich Tern & a group of 6 Terns feeding far offshore for a while before moving off south, identified as Little Terns after much debate.(RJ,MO’H,PL).

 

Fri 18th Sept 26

From the hide: 116 Greylags, 150+ Teal, 11 Shoveler, 6+ Shelduck, 5 Mallard, 1 Wigeon, 5 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, c30 Curlew, 14 Lapwing, 12 Avocet, 5 Blk T Godwit, 1 Snipe, Lots of Gulls & Lapwings on the arable behind the plough, 5 Wheatear, Pied Wags, Swallows (less than of late). 5 Buzzards, 2 Kestrel. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR et.al. 

Reports from today

Brian Combes

07:14 Haven: G W Egret north.

08:44 Haven: 2 cattle egret with cows SW of scrape.

11:08 Haven: redstart still in hedge by manure heap tho very elusive.

17:49 Haven this morning included: 1 great white egret (north), 2 cattle egret, 1 redstart, 1400++ house martin (south; spectacular movement starting at 07:00, significantly easing after 09:00 - some very high, some skimming the ground, with a few very large groups; at times birds gathering in swirling flocks before moving on), 120+ swallow (south), 3 sand martin (south), 135+ mipit (75 south, 60+ feeding on arable), 2 grey wag (south), 1 yellow wag (over), 2 little egret (north), 1 grey heron (north), 1 whinchat (south of boardwalk), 2 wheatear, 2 stonechat (1 golf course, 1 farm paddocks), 13 chiff (1 singing), 2 willow warbler, 2 blackcap, 2 lesser whitethroat, 2 greenfinch, 21 linnet (south), 2 great spotted woodpecker, 6 Cetti’s (singing), 1 buzzard, 14 curlew, 11 avocet, 3 black-tailed godwit, 2 Chinese muntjac.

Graham Sutton

16:50 Just for the record, seawatching from the shelter 0730-0900 was quiet (3 Wigeon, 6 Dunlin S; 3 Sandwich Terns N) but bird of the day was  House Martin with approx 2000 S (along the seafront & also low over sea).

 

Thurs 17th Sept 26

After giving up on another very quiet seawatch Richard picked up a Caspian Gull just inside the carpark, unfortunately it flew off shortly after it was found PL/RJ/MO'H. 

From the hide: c80 Greylags, c150 Teal, 21 Shoveler, 7 Shelduck, 1 Wigeon, 4 Cormorant, c30 Lapwing, 12 Avocet, 11 Curlew, 3 Blk T Godwit (incl YN/YW (E)), Blk H Gulls, 2 Wheatear (on marsh to right of hide), Pied Wags and a few Swallows

No sign of the Shrike this morning just 2 Stonechat, 1 Whinchat and 1 Wheatear on the walk to French Pt. RJ/MO'H/MR et.al.

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

13:34 Some Caspo's can be quite tricky not this individual classic 1st w.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

 

Wed 16th Sept 26

Reports from today

Brian Combes

08:07 Haven: Red-backed Shrike 100m south of board walk.

19:17 The Red-backed Shrike this morning. First for me at The Haven.

Photo Brian Combes©

12:45 Haven: Redstart in hedge going north from farm heap on bridleway, typically furtive.

13:03 Now Two.

19:12 Haven this morning: 

1 red-backed shrike (1st autumn bird - lovely surprise and very glad it stuck around for people), 2 redstart (1 very nice adult male and 1 female type - together in hedge by farm manure heap though very elusive), 4 whinchat, 2 stonechat, 5 wheatear, 1 goldcrest, 1 sedge warbler, 205+ swallow (south), 62+ house martin (south), 266+ mipit (216+ south, 50+ feeding on arable), 1 grey wag (south), 2 skylark (south), 2 chaffinch (south), 6 reed bunting, 12 pied wag, 7 chiff (2 singing), 2 willow warbler, 1 whitethroat, 2 blackcap, 5 Cetti’s (singing), 1 green woodpecker, 79+ linnet (60+ on arable), 2 sparrowhawk, 5 buzzard (4 drifting very high SW), 2 great spotted woodpecker. 

Scrape/marsh:12 avocet, 2 black-tailed godwit, 1 snipe, 34 curlew, 1 ruff, 1 grey heron, 4 shelduck.

Pete Loud

08:34 Juv Shrike still showing on brambles just north of Simons net rides, viewable from seawall.

09:31 Red-backed Shrike still showing well from seawall.

Richard Jeffree

09:43 3 male Stonechat, blue throat trail.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

19:01 Went back for seconds this afternoon had it all to myself for a while.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Steve Entwistle

12:16 Shrike still showing, flighty & mobile, 1 Whinchat.

Mike O'Hanlon

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

13:27 Guillemot swimming close past Haven cafe now.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Matt Lonsdale

19:12 R B Shrike still present 18:55-19:10 in reedbed brambles opp. French point.

 

Tues 15th Sept 26

As I arrived Pete, Mike & Richard were just giving up on a very poor seawatch, and the carpark bushes were not much better, the only thing of note was the continual passage of Swallows heading south.

On the way to the hide a Wheatear was on the boating club rocks and a single Bar T Godwit passed close offshore plus a large flock of Meadow Pipits were along the front. The small wooded area just inside the kissing gate and to the right of the path held a nice Spotted Flycatcher and a large tit flock that included, 2 Willow Warblers & a Chiffchaff.

From the hide: 92 Greylag, 140+ Teal, 10 Shoveler, 6 Shelduck, c90 Lapwing, 4 Curlew, 3 Blk T Godwits, 2 Snipe, 1 Ruff, 70 Blk H Gulls, 2 Spotted Flycatchers (back hedge), 1 Cetti's Warbler. PL/RJ/MO'H/BH/MR et.al.

 

 

Mon 14th Sept 26

Another Quick visit for me today, I spent a few minutes with Pete, Rich & Mike seawatching before heading to the hide, on route 2 Wheatear were on the boating club rocks as were 6 Turnstones.

From the hide: 64 Greylag, 100+ Teal, 11 Shoveler, 7 Shelduck, 3 Mallard, 1 Pintail,  20+ Lapwing, 11 Avocet, 4 Snipe, 3 Blk T Godwits, 40+ Blk H Gulls, 4 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron. 

Pete Loud

08:25 Quite lively around the dell this morning with a male Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and all the common Warblers with several Blackcaps.

15:46 Offshore from Haven this morning was the first real Duck movement of the Autumn with over 100 Wigeon & 50+ Teal, 12 Sanderling, 4 Avocet, 2 Common Scoter, 14 Shelduck, 1 juv Kittiwake, 1 Hobby & hundreds of Swallows & House Martins, all movement to the south, walk up to Sandy point and back, 6+ Wheatear, 1 Whinchat and 4 or 5 Sandwich Terns, around the bushes, Spot Fly, Redstart, a few Willow Warblers & Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, several Blackcap & Lesser Whitethroat, evidence of a bit of movement after yesterday’s rain.

 

Sun 13th Sept 26

Reports from today

Simon Cox

17:23 Scrape early pm: G Heron 1, Cormorant 3, Greylag 76, Shelduck 7, Mallard 2, Teal 70, Shoveler 8, Moorhen 5, Lapwing 33, Avocet 9, Curlew 3, Blackwit 2 (cr bird still present, probably a Wash bird, photo sent to Jenny Gill), Buzzard 2, B-h Gull 350 (big flock dropped on to scrape), H Gull 39, LBBG 3, Cetti’s W 1 singing.

Sat 12th Sept 26

Just a short visit for me this morning, all much the same on the scrape, Snipe up to 6 and a Pintail was about it. PL/RJ/MO'H/BH/MR 

Reports from today 

09:53 Yellow Wagtail on the Haven car park.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

John Sawyer

10:20 Hobby over car park.

 

Fri 11th Sept 26

On the way to the hide 2 Hobby were high over the sewage works and 3+ Wheatear were along the front. RJ/MO'H/MR

From the hide: 60+ Greylag, c140 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 7 Shelduck, 5 Mallard, 8 Cormorant, 80+ Lapwings, c30 Curlew, 8 Avocet, 3 Blk T Godwit, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Ruff, 1 Snipe, 2 Wheatear, 1 Cetti's Warbler, lots of Swallows plus a few House Martins & Sand Martins, 4 Buzzard, 1 Red Kite, 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MO'H/BH/MR et.al.

 

Thurs 10th Sept 26

From the Hide: 35 Greylags, 30 Canada Geese (+ the hybrid family), c130 Teal, 10+ Shoveler, 7 Shelduck, 7 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, Lapwing (spread over the marsh and arable, no count), 14 Curlew, 8 Avocet, 4 Blk T Godwit, 3 Ruff, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 3+ Yellow Wags, Pied Wags, Cetti's Warbler, 1000+ Swallows, House & Sand Martins, 1 Swift, 2 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR et.al.

Reports from today

Brian Combes

16:42 Haven this morning included: 2 whinchat, 1 stonechat, 2 wheatear, 314+ swallow (214 south, 100+ feeding over the marshes), 61+ house martin (41 south, 20+ feeding over marshes), 5 sand martin (south), 48 mipit (south, mainly first thing), 1 coal tit (still with the tit flock), 2 willow warbler, 3 chiff (1 singing), 3 blackcap, 2 lesser whitethroat, 3 whitethroat, 25++ blue tit (appeared to be a bit of movement; including a group of 6 that launched themselves and headed towards Frinton at height (mirrored in Simon’s ringing data)), 20 linnet, 4 greenfinch, 2 buzzard, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 5 Cetti’s (singing), 1 little egret (north), 1 green woodpecker, 1 common sandpiper, 2 turnstone, 3 reed bunting. 

Scrape: 2 ruff, 5 black-tailed godwit, 1 grey heron, 22 curlew, 1 redshank, 8 avocet, 2 snipe.

One of the wheatears this morning.
Photo Brian Combes©

 

Wed 9th Sept 26

Reports from today

10:59 Honey Buzzard and Raven over fresh marsh.

11:07 3/4 Whinchat boardwalk.

12:51 Scrape this morning 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank, 1 Snipe, 2 Ruff, 3 Blackwit, 30 +Curlew + the usual Teal and Lapwing. Red Kite, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. 

On the walk up the marsh I was photographing a beautiful pale phase Common Buzzard when I heard a Raven cronking, located that and saw another buzzard high up above, it looked interesting through my bins so I fired off a couple of snaps, reviewing the images I could see it was a Honey Buzzard unfortunately looking up again couldn't see it so don't know what direction it went presumably south, only other birds of note were 3 Whinchat.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

 

Tues 8th Sept 26

Reports from today

Eddie Forrest

10:32 6 Cattle Egrets with cattle, South of Fann, ("humpback") bridge.  Seen from bedroom window!.

 

Mon 7th Sept 26

From the hide: 45 Greylag, 100+ Teal, 14 Shoveler, 10+ Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 7 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, c80 Lapwing, 3 Avocet, 3 Blk T Godwit, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, 1 Bar T Godwit, 1 Ruff, c30 Blk H Gulls, 3 LBB's, 2 Red Kites, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, Pied Wag, Meadow Pipit. Loads of Swallows, House Martins and a few Sand Martins moving south. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR.

On the way back a Wall Brown butterfly was seen near the mounds and c6 Cattle Egrets were with the cows over the road.

Reports from today

Simon Cox

07:41 Kingfisher in hand, reedbed.

(See Ringing page)

Photo Simon Cox©

Richard Jeffree

15:13 Grey Plover south past the shelter.

 

Sun 6th Sept 26

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

08:57 Sea watching with PL and RJ. Picked up 4 Gannets heading north so far.

Pete Loud

09:38 Grey Plover south

10:04 Sooty Shearwater north

10:16 Manx Shearwater just gone north.

Steve Entwistle

14:52 2.40  Sooty Shearwater flying north picked up windmill, control tower, little bit behind yellow bouy, watched it go out of view to my left.

 

Sat 5th Sept 26

Reports from today

Brian Combes

10:16 Haven: 1 cattle egret with cows west of humpback bridge.

12:32 Haven this morning: 1 cattle egret, 5 whinchat (3 south of boardwalk, 2 golf course),  2 stonechat (golf course), 8 wheatear (seawall/golf course), 1 cuckoo (juv west over marsh), 9 mipit (south, first passage birds for me this autumn), 252 swallow (south), 2 sand martin (south), 1 coal tit (with tit flock), 2 grey wag (south), 1 sedge warbler, 6 yellow wag (3 south), 1 goldcrest (with tit flock), 4 willow warbler, 3 chiff (1 singing), 2 whitethroat, 2 lesser whitethroat, 4 blackcap, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 1 green woodpecker, 1 turnstone (high, west), 1 golden plover (high, west), 16 pied wag, 3 Cetti’s (singing), 1 buzzard, 1 whimbrel (south), 9 linnet, 2 reed bunting, 1 greenfinch. 

Scrape: 18 curlew, 8 avocet, 4 black-tailed godwit, 1 green sandpiper, 2 snipe, 2 shoveler, 1 marsh harrier, 1 common sandpiper.

Mike O'Hanlon

11:10 Scrape this morning (9.30 - 11 am) - 8 Yellow wagtails, 1 Wheatear, 80 Lapwing, 120+ Teal, 8 Avocets, 1 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 32 Curlew, 3 Blackwits, 1 Barwit, 5 Shelduck, 4 Shovelers, 6 Cormorants, 50 Greylags, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Red Kites, 5 Buzzard, 2 Kestrels, 1 Mute swan, 14 Black headed gulls, 2 Cattle egret (1 flew over scrape) 1 Marsh Harrier (RJ, MOH).

12:27 Walk to Sandy Point and back over marsh and along sea wall - 3/4 Wheatears, 3 Clouded Yellows.

 

Fri 4th Sept 26

I got my timing wrong this morning and got a good soaking on the way to the hide.

From the hide: 30 Greylag, 2 Canada Geese, 100+ Teal, 10+ Mallard, 5 Shelduck, 3 Shoveler, 8 Cormorant, 1 Cattle Egret, c30 Curlew, 18 Lapwing (up on arable), 8 Avocet, 3 Ruff, 3 Snipe, 2 Blk T Godwits, 1 Green Sand, 70+ Blk H Gulls, 3 LBB Gulls, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Wheatear, plus a few Swallows & a couple of Sand Martin. PL/RJ/MO'H/MR.

The single Cattle Egret seen from the hide was a quick in & out but on leaving seemed to drop into the marsh over the road, on the way home a stop at the humpback bridge showed that there were 9+ Cattle Egrets with the cows out on the marsh.