Thurs 8th Dec 22

Another bright and chilly morning, a walk to the 3rd pillbox with Richard turned up just 2 Stonechat and 2 Rock Pipits plus a few Cormorants offshore.

From a frozen scrape: 130 Greylag, c30 Wigeon, c20 Teal, 6+ Shoveler, 80+ Lapwing (on arable), 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel.

The carpark bushes were busy with 1 Firecrest, 3+ Goldcrest, lots of Gt. Blue & L T Tits + Robin, Wren, 6 Goldfinch, 6 Redwing. RJ/MR

 

Wed 7th Dec 22

Bright but very chilly out this morning. Very quiet offshore apart from two groups of Golden Plover coming straight in off the sea and heading inland, 40+ for Pete and Richard before I arrived and a further 30 shortly after.

From the hide: c160 Greylag, 60+ Wigeon, 56 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 2 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 53 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 2 Kestrel.

 

Tues 6th Dec 22

Brian had covered most of the site before I got out this morning so I wandered to the hide in the mid morning sunshine.

From the hide: c120 Greylag, 60+ Wigeon, 50+ Teal, 15 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, 76 Lapwing & 12 Curlew (on marsh to the north of hide), 1 Snipe, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard.

In the carpark bushes on the way back were 2 Goldcrest, 4 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Wren and lots of Blackbirds.

Reports from today:

Brian Combes

08:25 4 Egyptian Geese on scrape

08:27 Just flew off west

09:28 1 Firecrest western end of approach road though elusive + 3 Fieldfare

09:33 1 Chiff eastern end of approach road

10:45 1 Purple Sandpiper roosting on rocks east of golf course dump

17:38 Frinton to Haven along seawall and back via farm, this morning included: 4 Egyptian Geese, 1 Firecrest, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Little Grebe (in Holland Brook, sluice end), 1 Common Sandpiper (flushed near wooden hide, flew low calling, quickly dropping out of sight), 9 Curlew (3 south, 6 on golf course), 2 Reed Bunting, 7 Pied Wagtail, 110+ Cormorant (north first thing, mainly in one single loose group), 3 Cetti’s Warbler (singing, 2 Haven, 1 golf course), 82 Lapwing, 54 Wigeon, 51 Teal, 9 Shoveler, 21 Blackbird (mainly approach road), 3 Fieldfare (approach road, then flew inland), 5 Goldcrest (2 approach road, 3 by carpark), 3 Song Thrush (approach road), 8 Goldfinch, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5+ Stonechat (probably 7, two pairs northern end of golf course, 1 where footpath leaves the golf course; a pair southern end of golf course were likely to be additional), 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Buzzard, 23 Linnet (fields adjacent to paddocks), 5 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff (approach road), 1 Redwing (approach road).

Photo Brian Combes©

 

Mon 5th Dec 22

A late start for me after the dentists but quiet all round, a short look out to sea gave just 1 Com. Scoter, 1 Shelduck (s) and a Cormorant (n), Pete and Dave had a couple of Gannets earlier.

c80 Greylag were on the marsh north of the hide as were 60+ Lapwing, but duck number were well down. Pete and Dave had some Curlew and a Rock Pipit on a walk to the Frinton end.

Sadly Matt Lonsdale found a dead Peregrine on the beach, hopefully not a sign of things to come.

Reports from today:

Matt Lonsdale

12:23 Unfortunately a dead peregrine on the beach at haven just now. Potentially an AI victim, will ring defra hotline when back. Worth keeping an eye out for any other dead birds in area!

 

Sun 4th Dec 22

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

09:39 Puffin headed north close.

09:58 Skua heading north distant for us but looks like Arctic to me. (later confirmed as Pom. Skua)

12:50 Seawatching again slow at times, but stuck with it. Puffin was a Haven tick for Richard and I, and a long awaited Essex tick for me. 1 Pom Skua, 6 Gannet, 5 Kittiwake, 1 Guillemot, 12 Common Scoter, 7 Red T Diver, 6-700 Cormorant, Peregrine & 3 Mute Swan. As yesterday all heading north, plus 2 Red B Merganser south.

 

Sat 3rd Dec 22

Pete Loud

10:22 Black t Diver close north.

10:59  4 White Fronts, 4 ad,2 juvenile just come in off and over marsh.

11:01 Obviously 6 in total landed on marsh Gt Holland end.

13:26 Not a bad seawatch slow but good variety. 3 Guillemot, 1 Red B Merganser, 7 Common Scoter, 1 Gannet, 1 Black T Diver, 4 Red Throated, 4 Eider, 2 Great C Grebe and the 6 White Fronted Geese. Walk to Raised Tee only added Rock Pipit , 2 Turnstone a decent flock of Brent and 100+Lapwing on the marsh.(RJ,PD,ML,PL).

 

Thurs 1st Dec 22

The two Firecrests showed well along the approach road this morning with a large flock of Blue, Great & L T Tits + a Goldcrest and lots of Blackbirds.

A Purple Sandpiper and 2 Turnstone were around the sluice and 1000-1200 Brent were sitting on the sea off French Point before splitting into feeding flock and moving to the arable.

From the hide: 130 Teal, 46 Wigeon, 14 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, a few Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 1 Stonechat, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. RJ/BH/MR

On the way back to the car 2 Song Thrush were around the TDC compound.

Reports from today:

Matt Turner

08:46 Approaching 1000 Brent on the water off French point.

08:59 Barnacle Goose north, mid distance.