Sun 30th June 19

The Avocet chick from yesterday was joined by 3 more today, looks like yesterdays bird has 2 siblings and a freshly hatched chick this morning has mum still sitting on eggs..

From the hide :- 23 Shelduck (15 adults + 8 large ducklings), 1 Gadwall, 1 Teal, 29 Avocet (25 + 4 chicks), 10 Blk. T Godwits, 10 Lapwing, 8 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Med Gull (1cy), 10+ Pied Wagtails, 4 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, PL/MR

Noted around the site were 8 Reed Bunting, 4 Reed Warbler, 5 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit and the pair of Stonechat.

Lots of Small Skipper butterflies today, see "Haven Wildlife" page.


At the end of June the total number of species recorded on the site so far this year stands at 162.

Sat 29th June 19

Max Martin

07:58 Juvenile Coal Tit in brambles in front of raised platform.

08:38 Juv. Bearded Tit in front of hide! You beauty. 


Ian Minton

08:25 Little Owl seen briefly in flight along path to right of farm pond.

Matt Lonsdale

08:38 Young Coal Tit from top end of car park.

09:07 Avocet youngster on scrape.

09:27 8 Blackwits dropped into the scrape.

Pete Loud

16:44 Quick visit to Scrape this afternoon :- 2 Swift, 6 Sand Martin, 1 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 3 decent sized Redshank chicks and the one Avocet chick. All the other Avocets are still sitting, so should be a few more soon. 1 Juvenile Stonechat in bramble to right of Hide.

Sat 29th June 19

Been away for a few days so here's a quick catch up on what's been happening.

Pete Davis 

Thu 27th June  Spanking 'black' male Ruff on the scrape.

Fri 28th June   Fulmar over sea wall toward Frinton. From the hide :-  1 Yellow Legged Gull (Ad), 2 Beardies, 2CY Marsh Harrier.

Tues 25th June 19

Breezy with heavy cloud again this morning and I headed for the hide hoping the overnight rain had dropped something good into the scrape. On arrival Pete Davis was already settled in and informed me that yesterdays LRP was nowhere to be seen and the only new arrivals were 12 Teal, I don't know about Autumn being here, seems more like Winter with returning ducks.
From the hide :- 19 Shelduck, 12 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 24 Avocet, 10 Lapwing (6+4), 9 Redshank (6+3), 2 BlkWit's, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 6 Swallow, c20 Swift, + a good number of juv. Pied Wags. The walk back to the car added the pair of Stonechat, Whitethroat, Linnet, Blackcap, Reed Warbler and House Sparrow on the mounds + 2 singing Goldfinch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Greenfinch at the feeding station.

Matt Lonsdale

This evening :- Scrape- 12 Teal, 1 Curlew and 2 Blackwits. 
Mounds- 2 Stonechat (Male + unringed fem), Chiffchaff with fledged young and Sandwich Tern (south).
More good news- fledged young Stonechat near wooden hide.

Another first of year on the Haven Wildlife page.

Mon 24th June 19


Very quiet on site today the one highlight was a Little Ringed Plover found on the scrape by Pete Davis at 10:15 and still showing for Ted Sewell just before mid-day.

Sun 23rd June 19

Very quiet around the site today with a brisk wind and heavy cloud cover for most of the morning. 
Pete Loud had a distant Hobby and a Marsh Harrier drifting high north from the raised platform around 10:30.
From the hide :- 20 Shelduck, 3 Gadwall, 19 Avocet,10 Redshank, 8 Lapwing, 6 BlkWit's, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Reed Bunting, 5 Linnet, 4 Reed Warbler, 1 Buzzard + a few Swallow, Swift and Sand Martin. PL/ML/MR

Also a few bits on the Haven Wildlife page. 

Sat 22nd June 19


Pete Loud

A wander around the Haven today. Tufted Duck (female) on brook over the road. 
Scrape :- 25 Avocet, with 11 on nests,1 Knot (winter plumage), 8 Blackwits, 2 Oystercatchers (nesting pair), 1 Adult and 2 1st summer Med Gulls,1 Marsh Harrier & 12 Swift. 1 pair of Stonechat.
All the usual Warbler species, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Cettis, Reed, Sedge, Whitethroat & Lesser Whitethroat, all breeding on site. Couple of Painted Lady’s along seawall & 2, Four-spotted Chasers,1 Emperor & 1 Hairy Dragonfly.