Sat 7th Sept 24

Reports from today

Shirley

11:05 2 Whinchat in hedge 100yds north of hide.

Paul Brayshaw

16:56 Redstart along the track from Frinton tennis club alongside the gc (dusky warbler location).

17:25 At least 35 Wheatear and 6 Whinchat (max single scan) on bridlepath fields north of gc.

18:10 Additional bits from a slight longer duration but shorter distance covered around the gc - 20+ Chiff, 4 Willow, 6 Lesser White, 2 Yellow Wag and a further two Whinchat near the raised tee. Wheatear watching was an absolute treat!

 

Fri 6th Sept 24

From the hide: 120+ Greylags, 40+ Teal, Mallard, 14 Shoveler, 4 Cormorant (+13 over), 4 grey Heron, 2 Lt. Egret, 82 Lapwing, 15+ Blk T Godwits, 4 Avocet, 2 Common Sands, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Redshank, 1 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 46 Blk H Gulls, 2 LBB, 2 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, plus a few Swallows. RJ/M'OH/MR.  

Reports from today

Simon Cox

08:34 Whinchat near reed bed ringing site. Passage of Red Admirals.

Mike O'Hanlon

10:58 2 Whinchats on the marsh opposite French point

 

Thurs 5th Sept 24

From the hide: 154 Greylag, Mallard, c40 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 1 Pintail, 4 Cormorant, 4 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret, 26 Lapwing, 8 Blk T Godwits, 2 Common Sands, 1 Ruff, 1 Green Sand, 1 Redshank, 37 Blk H Gulls, 2 LBB, RJ/MR/ et.al.

3 Sandwich Tern headed north from the sluice on the way back.

Reports from today

Pete Loud

10:32 Arctic Skua south mid range to close in.

16:28 Seawatch from the Haven wasn’t very productive today, 1 Adult Arctic Skua south and then the same bird I think a couple of hours later north, a few Sandwich Terns north and 3 Common Terns north, just 4 Gannets all south, 4 Golden Plover and a few Wigeon. Missed the Velvet I think it must have passed when we were looking at the Skua.

Richard Jeffree

11:31 Ruff and Redshank just appeared on scrape

Mike O'Hanlon

12:24 Arctic skua heading north mid range from Haven.

 

Wed 4th Sept 24

A few more birds around the bushes this morning with Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Lesser & Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and all the local Tits noted, plus masses of hirundines. 

Loads of Swallows & House Martins plus a few Sand Martin and a single Swift were on the move, but the high point of the morning was watching two Hobby attacking these flocks, at first offshore from the sailing club then moving inland over the carpark, working together their flying was spectacular if (as far as we could tell) unsuccessful. RJ/MR.

From the hide: 110 Greylag, c60 Teal, Mallard, 10+ Shoveler, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, 1 Lt. Egret, 45 Lapwing, 14 Blk T Godwit, 4 Avocet, 3 Common Sands, 1 Redshank, 1 Ruff, 3 Buzzard, 1 Hobby, 1 Red Kite, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MO'H/MR.

Reports from today

Brian Combes

07:08 Ruff on scrape.

10:39 3 Whinchat half way down bridleway in the ‘hedge’ by 90 degree bend in path.

17:33 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via farm this morning included: 3 Whinchat, 10 Wheatear (2 on the sea defences, 1 by scrape, 4 in pumpkin field, 3+ with whinchat), 1 Ruff (juv), 2 Greenshank, 1 Grey Wag (south), 3 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiff, 3 Blackcap, 8 Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Yellow Wag, 275+ Swallow (south), 130+ House Martin (south), 30+ Sand Martin (south), 2 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Grey Heron, 30+ Lapwing, 1 Mute Swan, 18 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Hobby (south), 3 Green Woodpecker (juvs together), 12 Linnet, 4 Sandwich Tern, 15 Curlew, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 5 Cetti’s Warbler (singing).

Photo Brian Combes©

Two (of three) juvenile green woodpeckers, presumably siblings. These two birds were acting in a truly remarkable way; facing each other they were, in unison, bobbing up and down and moving their heads from side to side, eventually touching bills. This went on for a couple of minutes. Not seen this behaviour before but I vaguely remember reading that adult males, on rare occasions, use such a ‘dance’ in territorial disputes? These two birds were males so perhaps practising this antagonistic behaviour?

 

Tues 3rd Sept 24

From the hide: c120 Greylag, Mallard, 60+ Teal, 14 Shoveler, 5 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron (one of which had a large Water Vole as a mid morning snack), 1 Lt. Egret, 11 Lapwing, 9 Blk T Godwits, 3 Avocet, 2 Lt. Stint, 2 Redshank, 2 Green Sands, 1 Common Sand, 1 Snipe, 5 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel. RJ/MR/LH et.al. 

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

10:01 2 Little Stints back of scrape.

Pete Loud

13:45 2 Little Stint still at back of Scrape, but little else, 2 Avocet, 2 Blackwit, 6 Lapwing and 1 Common Sand. 

 

Mon 2nd Sept 24

From the hide: 118 Greylag, 7 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret, Mallard & Teal, 45 Lapwing, 10 Blk. T Godwit, 4 Curlew, 4 Avocet, 3 greenshank, 2 Common Sands, 1 Snipe, 30+ Blk H Gulls, 1 Common Gull. 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Tree Sparrow, plus a steady movement of Swallow and House Martin DP/RJ/MR

Reports from today

Dennis Pryor

10:52 Tree Sparrow. Bramble bush left of hide.

Richard Jeffree

14:40 6+ Wheatear manure heap adj. field bridleway.

Mike O'Hanlon

17:03 Whinchat by the GC dump.

 

Sun 1st Set 24

Report from today

Matt Lonsdale

09:20 Merlin on arable above hide.

Richard Jeffree

18:35 A juv Sanderling was near the sluice this evening.