Sun 31st March 19

Water Pipits were the birds of the morning on the scrape with probably 7 in total with 2-5 showing well on the back edge in good light.

From the hide :- 2 Canada Geese, 1 Brent, 34 Shelduck, c40 Teal, 10 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 12 Lapwing, 10 Avocet, 7 BlkWit's, 6 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 94 Blk. Headed Gulls, 22 Herring Gull, 6 GBBG, 2 Common Gull, 1 LBBG, 1 Peregrine. ML/MM/MR

 On the way home 2 Turnstone were on the seawall near the sluice. MR

An afternoon visit to the hide by Matt Turner gave views of at least 4 of the Water Pipits and the Jack Snipe, not located in the morning session. Later in his visit 6 Snipe were flushed from the scrape area and the first Swallow* of the year was seen from the raised platform.

A short seawatch by Matt Lonsdale added 4 Gannet, 2 Curlew, (N), 3 Com. Scoter (S) and 3 R T Divers.


At the end of March the total number of species recorded on the site so far this year stands at 127

Sat 30th March 19

My morning started off over the road where I was greeted by my first singing Blackcap which when located turned out to be a pair, it always seems that spring has started when the Blackcaps are singing, in the same area were 2 Chiffchaff's & a Cetti's Warbler.

I joined Pete, John, Matt & Max in the hide and viewed the 2 LRP's they had reported earlier, unfortunately the Water Rail also reported didn't reappear.

From the hide :- 2 Canada Geese, c 60 Teal, 38 Shelduck, 20 Wigeon, 10 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 20+ Lapwing, 14 Avocet, 7 BlkWit's, 7 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 1 Dunlin (first thing only), 1 Buzzard, 1 Red Fox. No sign of the Jack Snipe at this time. Another Blackcap was singing in the area between the sluice and the wind pump.

The walk to the boardwalk and back added a good number of Reed Bunting in and out of the reedbeds and the continual sound of singing Skylark's

On the return 2 Stonechat were around the mounds area and several Chiffchaff were around the bushes.

A ringing session along the back hedge was very successful with 2 Bearded Tits and 2 Cetti's Warblers ringed (details to follow on the Ringing page) 

Fri 29th March 19

Headed for the hide this morning to see how many of yesterdays birds remained, 50% of the top four were still present in the form of the Jack Snipe & the Water Pipits. The Pipits were a bit elusive again today showing for a few minutes on the far bank or dropping onto the Tern raft before disappearing into the cover of the marsh.

From the hide :- 2 Canada Geese, c30 Wigeon, c30 Teal, 23 Shelduck, 7 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 20 Lapwing, 10 Avocet, 9 BlkWit's, 6 Redshank, 6 Curlew, 2 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Common Gull 2 LBB Gulls, Herring & Blk H Gulls, 1 Grey Heron (juv), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 2 Water Pipits, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Linnets, 4 Reed Bunting, 1 Chiffchaff. JH/DW/MR/Mo & Dave.

3 R T Divers feeding close offshore were a good watch for a few minutes on the flat calm sea

A few butterflies were out again mostly Peacocks with a couple of Small Tortoiseshells and 1 Brimstone (my first at the haven this year).

3+ Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Wren were reported in the memorials area JH

Late afternoon a few Goldcrests were around the entrance to the sewage works MM.

Thurs 28th March 19

A couple of Chiffchaffs were heard on the way into the site and the male Stonechat was on the mounds.
A stop at the sluice to look out to sea added several R T Divers sitting on the sea and a few Cormorants flying around, further out a large flock of gulls were following a trawler and amongst them was a adult Gannet plunge diving a sight not often seen at the Haven.

On reaching the hide it was soon evident that we had another bird for the year list when a Lt. Ringed Plover* was noted on the front of the island, while putting a message out there was a lot of noise and commotion and on the right hand side of the scrape a Fox was paddling up to it's knees in water watched by a semi-circle of bird keeping a safe distance.

A bit later a Water Pipit was seen briefly on the Tern raft before being lost to view, this bird showed on and off for most of the day. 
A good day became a lot better 30 mins. later when a stunning drake Garganey* was found amongst  the Teal. What a morning !!! how could you better that?, by the addition of a Jack Snipe an hour later, when at one time Garganey, LRP and Jack Snipe were all in the same view, unreal. DW/PNt/MR am. PRD/LH/MT/MM/PL/ML/TS pm.

From the hide :- 6 Canada Geese 3 Greylag, c40 Teal, c25 Wigeon, 25 Shelduck, 7 Shoveler, 1 Garganey, 60+ Curlew, 14 Avocet, 12 BlkWit's, 12 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 4 Redshank, 2 Ruff, 1 LRP, 1 Jack Snipe, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Water Pipit.

Late afternoon  a Short-eared Owl over the marsh to the right of the hide MM/MT.
and 6 Goldcrests and at least 1 Firecrest were in the memorials area MM/ML/MT.

Wed 27th March 19

The car park bushes were quite busy this morning with at least 3 Chiffchaff's, 1 Goldcrest and plenty of Chaffinch but the surprise of the morning was a Woodcock* flushed from the area just below the cars at the top of the carpark. On the way to the hide a further Chiffchaff was near the boating club and a Stonechat was between the TDC compound and the mounds.

From the hide :- 15 Greylag, 2 Canada Geese, a few Wigeon & Teal, 23 Shelduck, 10 Shoveler, 15 Avocet, 12 BlkWit's, 12 Lapwing, 4 Redshank, 1 Snipe, 4 Linnet, 3 Reed Bunting, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Buzzards, 2 Sparrowhawks. DW/JH/MR

Mid afternoon a Short-eared Owl was Quartering the marsh to the right of the hide. MR 

Late afternoon Matt Lonsdale had a Firecrest, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff in the car park bushes and 2 Gadwall on the brook.

Tues 26th March 19

On the walk down to the hide this morning a few minutes checking the brook hedge paid dividends, after Blue Tit, Gt. Tit, L.T.Tit and several Robins a male Blackcap* showed briefly before disappearing into the only bush with leaves on.

From the hide :- 2 Greylag, 2 Canada Geese, 41 Teal, 21 Shelduck, 15 Wigeon, 7 Shoveler,  14 Lapwing, 8 BlkWit's, 4 Avocet, 1 Ruff, 1 Knot, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Reed Bunting, 1 Buzzard.

On the wildlife front a Small Tortoiseshell and Small White Butterflies were both the first of the year (See Wildlife Page).

Pete Davis

Water Pipit not quite annual at the Haven with all records in spring. Y'day's 4 was the largest number recorded together (2 records of 3 birds before) and were the earliest by nearly 2 weeks (7th April 2002)

Mon 25th March 19

On my way into the site this morning 3 Buzzards were high over the marsh west of the chippings lay-by and a Cetti's Warbler was calling along the brook near the hump backed bridge, the bushes over the road were quiet.

Heading for the hide I met up with Ted Sewell and we spent a few minutes watching a single Adder on the mounds, a female Stonechat was in the same area.

Shortly after arriving at the hide a Ruff* was noticed with 3 Redshank at the back of the scrape, this being the first this year we were happy to watch it for a while but when it passed a group of Pied Wagtails on the bank one was not a Wagtail but a Water Pipit*, we moved our attention to the mud at the back and found a total of 5 Water Pipits. Within minutes everything was flushed from the scrape by a Sparrowhawk which landed on the back edge only 10 m from where the Pipits had been. The Wagtails soon returned but it was a good 30 mins before the Pipits were relocated back in the same area and at least 3 were still showing late afternoon.

From the hide :- Ducks all much the same as of late, 15 Avocet, 12 BlkWit's, 10 Lapwing, 4 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Ruff, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Water Pipits.