Tue 7th Jan 20

Not on site today, had a great day at Abberton. No reports received so far.

Mon 6th Jan 20

A bit of a non day at the Haven today, still c80 Cormorants moving about offshore but Red T Diver no's were well down.
From the hide : No sign of the White-fronted Geese today but c250 Brent dropped into the scrape for a wash and c150 Greylag, 6 Canada Hybrids, 150 Teal, 30 Wigeon, 6 Shelduck, 9 Shoveler, c300 Lapwing, 20 Snipe, 3 Kestrel were around the scrape. Numbers were probably similar to yesterday but quite a few birds were on the scrape below the raised platform, incl. 2 BlkWit's

Please be aware that the Main Hide will be closed from tomorrow for approx. three days for redecoration.

Sun 5th Jan 20

Three new birds for the year list today, a Lt Egret was on the marsh to the north of the approach road when I drove in this morning, Matt had a Pintail in with the Wigeon offshore after lunch and Paul Brayshaw added a Lt. Owl late afternoon.

From the hide : 4 Mute Swans,c400 Brent, c200 Greylag, 16 White-fronted Geese, 6 Canada Hybrids, c150 Teal, 100 Wigeon, 12 Shelduck, 11 Shoveler, c300 Lapwing, 18 Curlew, 9 Snipe, 2 Buzzards, 2 Peregrine, 3 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Stonechat, 1 Lt. Egret (to the right of the hide) could have been a second bird as the other was still in the same place as earlier when we left.
A single Purple Sandpiper was on the seawall   MM/MR   


Ian Minton

10:02 16 White-fronted Geese on marsh to right of hide plus Coal Tit on feeders.
10:36 Goldcrest by 5 bar gate.


Max Martin

10:42 Female Marsh Harrier to right of hide.
11:25 Peregrine on track to right of hide.


Matt Lonsdale

14:36 Drake Pintail In Wigeon flock offshore.
15:54 10+ Whitefronts still, Barn Owl, Peregrine and Blackwit still from pillbox.


Paul Brayshaw

16:29 Wander along seawall and around golf course to dusk - distant group Whitefronts, Barn Owl as per Matt plus Little Owl (golf course outbuildings/back hedge) and two Stonechat.  Masses of Cormorant offshore today (> 500 net south from a couple of sessions looking out to sea from Frinton) plus 150+ Red-throated Divers.

Sat 4th Jan 20

Not so much moving offshore today but a good day around the site in general with 3 birds added to the year list in the form of Sparrowhawk, Bearded Tit & LBB Gull.
A great start for those in the hide when Matt Lonsdale picked up a pair of Bearded Tits feeding on the front of the island, after not being seen for several weeks it's good to know they are still around and they were still there when I arrived.

From the hide : 4 Mute Swans, c400 Brent (on arable between Gt. Holland & Frinton), c200 Greylag, 16 White-fronted Geese, 6 Canada Hybrids, c200 Teal, c50 Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, 12 Shelduck, c300 Lapwing, 18 Curlew, 3 Snipe, 1 Blkwit, 1 Water Rail, 1 Stonechat, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1+ Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Peregrine. Noted along the back hedge were Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Skylark. S&PC/IM/PL/ML/MR

A Purple Sandpiper and a Turnstone were around the sluice when I walked back.


Ian Minton

12:41 Great Spotted Woodpecker on telegraph pole by raised platform.
15:43 Barn Owl at back of scrape plus 16 White-fronted Geese still on marsh to right of hide.
15:50 Rock Pipit on sea wall to right of sluice.

Fri 3rd Jan 20

Max Martin

11:01 Soon as rain cleared single scan produced 9 R T Divers.
11:09 Absolute Mad 5 mins! 100+ RTD South, just a constant stream of divers (magical).

11:42 Marsh Harrier just come in/off the sea.

I joined Ian & Max in time to see the Marsh Harrier (NFY) coming in/off (not where I expected my first Harrier of the year) and a Gt Crested Grebe (NFY) was seen sitting on the sea, along with lots of Red T Diver & Cormorant movement.

On the walk to the hide the Coal Tit was on the very busy feeders, 2 Stonechat were on the mounds, 2 Purple Sandpipers on the seawall and a Turnstone on the sluice + 6 Brent headed south & c 100 Wigeon were sitting on the sea.

From the hide : 4 Mute Swans, c200 Greylag, 16 White-fronted Geese, 6 Canada (1+ 5 hybrids), c200 Teal, 100 Wigeon, 20 Shelduck, 19 Shoveler, c 300 Lapwing, 6 Snipe. 2 BlkWits, 2 Golden Plover (NFY), 1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Heron. IM/MM/MR.

Matt Lonsdale

16:11 16 Whitefronts still on gracing marsh to right of hide, 2 Blackwit, Barn Owl and 2 Purple Sands other highlights.

Thu 2nd Jan 20

Mat Lonsdale

09:28 12 Whitefronts still on arable, Shoveler, 3 Snipe on scrape + 6 Pied Wags. Corn and Reed Bunting in hedge near set aside. Canada Goose and Brent flock distantly.
10:03 Purple Sand and Rock Pipit from sluice earlier, Goldcrest by entrance to sewage farm.


From the hide : 4 Mute Swans, c500 Brent (on the scrape for a while), c200 Greylag, 6 Canada Goose (hybribs), 4 of 12 White-fronted Geese on arable (most hidden behind hedge), c150 Teal, 30 Wigeon, 13 Shoveler, 9 Shelduck, 4 Cormorant, 300+ Lapwing, 10 Curlew, 3 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel. DW/CB/LH/PRD/MR.

A walk to the second pillbox added 2 Rock Pipits and a Turnstone.

Wed 1st Jan 20

A least 8 observers were on site today, with 4 of us walking down from the farm. Our total for the day was just 56 but I think that will increase a bit once other individual lists are received. End of day total now at 65.