Tues 28th Feb 23

A Peregrine was on the arable in front of the hide first thing, viewed from the lay-by and the Whooper Swans were still with 5 Mutes in the beet field.

On the way to the hide 3 Shelduck headed south offshore and 3 Cormorants north.

From the hide: c80 Wigeon, c30 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 8 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 40 Curlew, 30 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, plus a few B H Gulls, 5 Herring, 2 GBB, 1 LBB, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel and good views of the Water Vole again (see Haven Wildlife page). 4 Brent Geese dropped onto the marsh to the right of the hide as I was leaving. BH/MR

Three Stonechat were on the front below the sea-watching hide and 6 Purple Sands on the seawall beside the sluice.

At the end of February the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 97.

 

Mon 27th Feb 23

A short visit for me again today.

From the hide: c80 Wigeon, c30 Teal, 10 Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, 40 Curlew, 30 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, c80 B H Gulls, 4 Common Gulls, 2 GBB, 1 LBB plus 1 Water Vole showed well again today. DC/MR

A short visit to the farm this afternoon added 6 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, Linnet, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Skylark etc.

Reports from today:

Paul Brayshaw

07:42 Seawall run either side of dawn saw 23 Curlew onto the gc, Bearded Tit by boardwalk and six Purples at French point. 

Matthew Gough

09:40 A group of 3 Fieldfare in paddock behind Manor Farm.

Mike O'Hanlon

13:38 4 Purple Sandpipers on the sluice wall.

13:40 Beardie in the reeds north of old wooden hide.

 

Sun 26th Feb 23

The Whooper Swans are still with us with 6 Mutes in the beet field, 40 Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, 1 Grey Heron, lots of corvids from the chippings lay-by. 

8 Turnstone and 6 Purple Sands on the beach beside the sluice on the way to the hide.

From the hide: c80 Wigeon, c30 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 8 Mallard, 1 Shelduck, 20 Curlew, 11 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 100+ Blk H Gulls, 10+ Common Gulls, 10 Herring Gulls, 3 GBB, 1 LBB. MO'H/MR

Reports from today:

Mike O'Hanlon

12:15 Beardie is still in the Reed bed north of the old wooden hide

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

13:19 Pair of Yellowhammers on lower farm path

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

 

Sat 25th Feb 23

Reports from today:

Pete Loud

12:26 3 Golden Plover & 1 Corn Bunting up at the farm 1st thing. 3 Whoopers were in with 10 Mute in the usual Beet field and 4 Little Grebe on the brook. 500 Black headed Gull behind the tractor on the arable with 5 Med Gull and 50+ Common Gull. 20 Curlew behind scrape & 20 Lapwing.

 

Fri 24th Feb 23

The 3 Whooper Swans were showing well this morning with 5 Mute Swans from the chippings lay-by.

As I walked to the hide this morning two morters were fired from the lay-by presumably to panic the large flock of Pigeons feeding on the field between there and the hide, this of course flushed everything off the scrape. Three large flocks of Wigeon headed out to sea and everything else went in all directions. 2 Avocet dropped back in after a few minutes along with 2 Oystercatcher and a Med Gull, Shoveler and Teal returned in ones and twos and later in the morning 40 Curlew dropped onto the marsh to the right of the hide, otherwise quiet.

Reports from today:

Mike O'Hanlon

13:48 At least 6 Golden Plovers on the winter wheat north of the upper farm path

14:37 2 Mistle Thrushes on farm paddocks

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

 

Thurs 23rd Feb 23

A definite chill in the air this morning, with the wind coming in from the northeast.

From the hide: 2 Canada Geese, c100 Wigeon, c30 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 8 Mallard, 4 Shelduck, 31 Curlew, 24 Lapwing, 3 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, lots of gulls up on the arable. 1 Water Vole showing well for a few minutes. DW/MR et.al.

 

 Wed 22nd Feb 23

From the hide: 2 Canada Geese, c90 Wigeon, c30 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 10 Mallard, 4 Shelduck, 22 Curlew, 9 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Avocet, 150+ Blk H Gulls, 49 Herring Gulls, 5 Common Gulls, 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Stonechat (to right of hide).

A walk to French Point added several singing Skylark, 8 Meadow Pipit (inside seawall), 1 Oystercatcher and 6 Purple Sandpipers around French Point rocks. MR