Thu 31st Oct 19

Quite quiet around the site this morning, 5 Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Song Thrush & Redwing + Gt. Spotted Woodpecker seen in the car park bushes. 
Two Stonechat (pair) on the mounds. Lots of Blackbirds & Robins all over.

From the hide :- 61 Greylag, 70 Teal, 33 Wigeon, 3 Shoveler, 35 Brent (on the arable), 60 Lapwing, 1 BlkWit, 1 Water Rail (heard only), 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel,  

The water level in the Holland Brook is at least 3 ft. lower than normal so the water level on the scrape has also dropped and there is very little water in the ditches. Most of the Geese and Ducks were on the pond or marsh to the right of the hide.

Late afternoon visit :- 1 Guillemot, 1 R T Diver (N), 30+ Brent (S), Offshore.
Extra's on the Scrape :- 170+ Lapwing, 11 Snipe, 1 Dunlin. + 1 Barn Owl



Paul Brayshaw

16:13 Six Stonechat along seawall from Frinton end to grazing marsh 11:00-12:00. 
Still present 4pm. Grazing marsh :- 2 Barn Owl, 2 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harrier and 22 Curlew. Very little else to see today migrants wise.

Wed 30th Oct 19

Pete Loud

Managed a couple of hours before work this morning. At 7.20 on approach to shelter a Harrier flying from Scrape area behind radar mast and over sea and past me along front turned out to be a superb Ringtail Hen Harrier.
Much quieter offshore than yesterday, after 1 hour, 60 Brent, 8 Scoter, 2 Pintail, 14 Wigeon. 1 Drake Eider(LD). 
Bushes very quiet,1 Little Owl, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush. Left 9.45.


John Hall

09:42 Merlin flew inland over mounds.
12:13 Very quiet from Hide :- c50 Greylag, 6 Canada (4 Juvs 2 Ad), 1 Avocet, 1 Snipe, 50+ Teal, 42 Lapwing, 9 Wigeon, 1 fem Marsh Harrier, only 2 Gulls, 1 Blk. Headed, 1 Herring Gull.

 Tue 29th Oct 19

Not on site again today, no reports received so far.

Mon 28th Oct 19

Not on site today, no reports received so far.

Sun 27th Oct 19

It's amazing what a bit of sunshine can do, 4 Red Admirals & 1 Adder making the most of the warmth this morning.

A short walk round late morning gave 3 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 2 Song Thrush and a Green Woodpecker around the car park bushes, still lots of Blackbirds. The pair of Stonechat were on the mounds.

Slightly better than previous photo

Simon Cox

During this mornings ringing session (see Ringing page).
Water Rail heard, Bearded Tits very active, minimum 7.


Pete Loud

A late roundup of my sightings this morning.

Egyptian Goose along front, Rock Pipit on seawall, 8 Stonechat around site, small groups of Finches south, 80+ Goldfinch, 20 Chaffinch, 30+ Linnet, 30+ Meadow Pipit, 5 Swallow.
Scrape, 1 Avocet, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sand, 2 Blackwits, 4 Shoveler, 18 Wigeon, 100+Teal. 
1 Little Owl, lower car park hedge. Bushes,1 Firecrest, 3 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff (IM), 1 Brambling briefly in top of Willow by dipping pond after which it flew towards back of Scrape.



Matt Lonsdale

3 Barn Owls quartering marsh, other highlights from evening walk- Sanderling, Firecrest, 2 Rock Pipit, Grey Wag, few Beardies.


 

Sat 26th Oct 19

Late start today due to an amazing rugby match, but I didn't miss much.

Paul Brayshaw had a Bearded Tit calling from the reedbed at the Frinton end of the site.

Two Purple Sandpipers were on the rocks along the front, things were much the same on the scrape, a Peregrine was on the arable and 2 Firecrest were in the orchard area, otherwise very quiet PL/IM/ML.

Fri 25th Oct 19

Still a few Firecrest around today but nowhere near as many as yesterday.

The Lt Owl was in the same willow again this morning and the first Firecrest was seen as we entered the carpark bushes, as were 3 Chiffchaff, still lots of Blackbirds about with 8 in a single hawthorn beside the orchard. 
C40 Greylag, 7 Canada Geese and 6 Curlew were on the scrapes below the raised platform with a mixed gull flock. Retracing our steps a further 3 Firecrest were in the orchard area. Also noted were Green & Gt Spotted Woodpeckers, Song Thrush, Redwing, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch & Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel & Buzzard.  JH/MM/MR

Even a metre away I still can't get a decent picture

Peter Newton had 2 Purple Sandpipers that flew from the sluice toward Frinton at 10:30 and a pair of Stonechat were on the mounds.

From the hide :- 192 Teal. 7 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler, 174 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 2 BlkWits, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Avocet, 1 Redshank, 5 Cormorant, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Common Gull, 1 GBB, Herring & B H Gulls,1 Kingfisher. MM/MR/et al.

On a walk down from the farm Pete Davis had a lucustic Pheasant on the arable and 2 groups of Bearded Tits in the reedbeds along the seawall.