Tues 31st May 22

Nothing much of note again today, a single Redshank chick has joined the 7 Shelduck and 2 Mallard ducklings, the 4 Canada Goose Goslings have not been seen for a couple of days but they were quite large and should be ok. Lots of butterflies around today though.

At the end of May the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 141.

 

Mon 30th May 22

A very quiet morning with nothing of note, the Shelduck still have all 7 ducklings, a third Redshank was on the scrape with a single chick and 2 Cuckoo's were calling from the same tree at the back of the sewage works which was a bit bizarre, otherwise much the same.

 

Sun 29th May 22

Another one of those days at the Haven, a very quiet walk to the hide after a late start, nothing offshore at all, a stop at the wind pump to check the back corners of the scrape showed a Redshank, a few Shelduck and not much else, but as I approached the hide everything changed with a phone call from RJ saying if I was on site a Male Montagu's Harrier was approaching the hide, I lifted my bin's and there it was drifting low across the marsh in front of me, you just never know what's round the corner. Thanks Pete & Richard. 

The rest of the morning turned into a bit of a raptor fest with Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Buzzard, Kestrel also seen.

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

09:43 Male Montagu's Harrier quartering the marshes behind scrape now.

09:50 Now going high and heading towards Clacton so worth keeping an eye out at Colne Point.

13:22 Didn’t have high expectations today with the cold NW wind, but that changed with the stunning male Montagu's Harrier. Unfortunately it didn’t stay for long, climbing high and drifting off SW down the coast. Not to be outdone the male Marsh Harrier showed very well a couple of times and Hobby. 20+ Swifts were low over the arable. Little Egret dropped into the scrape and Cuckoo flew over.(RJ,MR,ML,PL).

Matt Lonsdale

18:24 Walk down from farm and through site in pouring rain early afternoon. Yellowhammer the highlight + lots of Corn Bunts. 2 Avocet on scrape, decent numbers of Swift and Swallows + single House Martin.

 

Sat 28th May 22

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

11:42 Over the road this morning, a cracking adult male Marsh Harrier,,Little Egret, couple of Cetti’s and cuckoo. No Avocet on Scrape, but Shelduck had a brood of Seven, 4 Redshank and 2 Oystercatcher. Several Swift about today and another 2 Cuckoo behind the sewage farm with all the regular breeding Warblers noted. Lots of Butterflies about in the sunshine, Green Hairstreak and Large Skipper were year ticks for me.

 

Fri 27th May 22

The Brent Goose was still sitting on the sea when I joined Richard at the sluice + a few Herring Gulls on the sluice incl "ZTD" a bird ringed by Mike Marsh at Felixstowe.

From the hide: 2 Canada Geese (+ 4 goslings), 6 Shelduck (+7 ducklings), 2 Mallard, 2 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 14 Blk H Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Med Gull (Over), 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, Cetti's Warbler, Reed & Sedge Warblers, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat & Linnets, 10+ Swallows, 3 Swift, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. DC/RJ/MR 

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

07:55 Sea wall run - 33 Swallow and 8 House Martin south, Greenshank calling whilst flying over marsh appeared to drop down to scrape, Cuckoo calling, offshore Little Tern north (my first this year anywhere) plus 14 (8+6) Kittiwake south - a further 44 past Frinton this morning at in groups of up to 11, assumed to be Suffolk birds on feeding trip.

Richard Jeffree

09:15 Brent Goose sluice.

 

Thurs 26th May 22

A slight improvement on yesterday with 10 Mallard, 6 Shelduck, 5 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 12 Blk H Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Lt. Egret, Linnets, Sedge & Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk & Kestrel + 2 Cuckoo flew across the scrape together. RJ/MR

 

Wed 25th May 22

Reports from today:

Peter Newton

17:20 An hours visit to the Haven this morning, and I can honestly say the scrape was the most vacant I think I have ever seen it . 1 Avocet , 2 Shelduck , 10 Mallard and a Moorhen. A Little Egret was flying over it when I arrived.