Fri 31st Jan 20


Not much change for the end to the month, hopefully February will bring some improvments.
The Black Swan was again with c70 Greylag on the marsh north/west of the carpark with a lot of Gulls, no sign of the Purple Sandpipers on the front this morning.
From the hide 2 Greylag, Wigeon, Teal, 8 Shelduck, c400 Lapwing, c30 Golden (flew through), 14 Curlew, 12 Snipe, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel. JH/DW/MR


  At the end of January the total number of species recorded stands at 85

Thu 30th Jan 20

Things were much the same again this morning, a look out to sea mid morning showed quite a few R T Divers feeding offshore and Cormorant moving north and south, 3 Purple Sandpipers flew south and were lost to view around the sluice rocks, otherwise very poor.
A single Peregrine was up on the arable, half a dozen Snipe and 500+ Lapwing were the highs from the hide along with the normal Greylag, Canada's, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Shelduck. DC/MR.

Wed 29th Jan 20

Another uneventful day today. The Black Swan was with the Greylags who had relocated to the pools below the raised platform along with a lot of ducks and gulls.
A few Goldfinch, Blackbirds and a Song Thrush were around the bushes, the feeders were busy, but it was very quiet along the front.
From the hide : 12 Canada Geese (6 Adults + 1 Adult & 5 hybrids), Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck & Shoveler, c300 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, 1 Lt. Egret, 1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 2 Yellowhammers, Reed & Corn Buntings.  JH/MR

Tue 28th Jan 20

No sign of the Purple Sandpipers first thing, but by lunch time with the rising tide all 4 were back on the seawall north of the sluice.

From the hide : c80 Greylag, 10 Canada's, Wigeon, Teal, 18 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, c300 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 2 BlkWit's, 1 Curlew + a few Golden Plover on the arable late morning, 3 Kestrel, 2 Buzzards. 20 + R T Divers were feeding offshore but otherwise very quiet out to sea. BW/DC/MR

Mon 27th Jan 20

Very quiet today, no sign of the Black Swan or Greylags. From the hide : 2 Canada Geese (adults), Wigeon, Teal, 14 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, c400 Lapwing, c100 Golden Plover (with Lapwing first thing but didn't return with Laps when flushed), 3 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 2 Peregrine, 2 Kestrel, Reed & Corn Buntings. PRD/DW/BH/MR et al.
3 Purple Sandpipers were on the seawall & 6+ R T Divers were sitting on the sea + 7 Brent, 10 Cormorant headed North, 4 Cormorants & 4 RT Divers headed south MR.


John Hall

16:02 PM visit to Scrape Hide. Very quiet 160 Lapwing on Scrape 60 Wigeon on pond 2 Shelduck 2 adult Canada on grazing marsh only 2 Snipe visible (to me) 12+ Corn Bunting on back hedge near 3rd Owl box also a few smaller birds that I could not identify but probably Linnets. Pair Mallard on Leon’s Marsh Kestrel on back hedge near set-aside. No Teal and only 2 Greylag observed. Just found 10 Snipe by small island with vegetation on it. No sign of Black Swan or Canada/hybrid family. On way in feeders were very busy with Blue and Great Tits also Coal Tit, Robin, Chaffinch and House Sparrow. Red Kite on back hedge unfortunately not avian variety. 16.00 light failing home time.

Sun 26th Jan 20

Another winters day at the Haven with very little change, but there is always something to make it worthwhile. 4 Purple Sandpipers on the seawall was a good start, the Black Swan (however plastic) is an impressive bird when flying around the scrape, a Water Rail & and a Kestrel hunting near the hide + meeting up with the Brightlingsea boys in the hide all in one morning. 

From the hide : 1 Black Swan, c100 Greylag, 10 Canada's, c200 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 12 Shelduck, 6 Shoveler, c600 Lapwing, 12 Curlew, 7 Snipe, 2 BlkWit's, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Water Rail, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, PL/IM/ML/MM/MR et al.

Sat 25th Jan 20

Three Purple Sandpipers (1 on the sluice, 2 on seawall) and the Norwegian Rock Pipit ringed "Z66" were the best of the day.

From the hide : 1 Black Swan, Greylag, Canada's, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, Shoveler (as of late), c500 Lapwing, 9 Snipe, 5 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrel, Corn & Reed Buntings. IM/MM/JH/MR

Offshore was quiet with a few Cormorants & a single R T Diver heading south.
The Coal Tit was on the feeders with a lot of Tits & a few Finches. IM/MM/MR