Fri 28th Feb 25
What a lovely morning for a walk to French Point in the sun with Skylarks singing overhead lets hope it lasts, a pair of Stonechat were in the moth sanctuary but not much else.
From the hide: Wigeon & Teal, 29 Shoveler, 8 Shelduck, 6 Mallard, c80 Lapwing, 34 Curlew, 10 Blk T Godwits, 4 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Avocet, 1 Dunlin, 51 Blk H Gulls, 1 Common Gull plus 1 Muntjac, 6 Hares.
At the end of February the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 94.
Tues 25th Feb 25
I had just a short visit this morning, 3 Med Gulls were in a large gull flock on the approach road marsh plus 8 Mallard and 2 Oystercatcher.
Nice to hear a bit more birdsong around the Dell, quite a few Blackbird, Dunnock Chaffinch & Robins around plus a Cetti's Warbler and 2 Greenfinch.
BH spent a bit of time in the hide and from his report numbers sounded much the same as yesterday.
Reports from today
Brian Combes
17:59 Walk from Frinton to The Haven and back via the farm this morning included: 6 med gull (with b-h gulls on golf course), 1 water rail (calling, Frinton end), 13 red-throated diver (8 on the sea mid-morning, 5 north), 5 purple sandpiper (together between middle and northern pillbox), 1 fieldfare (north over carpark), 3 redwing (north edge of paddocks), 7 stonechat (one pair - and five females, probably birds on the move, 2 together south of boardwalk and 3 together on seawall near northern pillbox), 2 goldcrest, 175 brent (north first thing in four groups, probably some of the birds passing Laurence), 220+ black-headed gull (golf course first thing), 8 reed bunting (5 singing), 9 linnet, 1 curlew (south), 100+ starling (golf course), 4 Cetti’s warbler (singing, including one in the dell), 19 mipit, 19 Canada goose, 27 shoveler, 1 avocet, 2 blackbird (in subsong), 3 hare (1 south of scrape and the 2 Mike photographed), 3 song thrush (singing), 2 green woodpecker, 15 black-tailed godwit (feeding on flood behind carpark), 2 oystercatcher, 2 shelduck (north), 14 pied wagtail (golf course/arable), 3 great spotted woodpecker (pair western edge of golf course, 1 drumming by farm), 1 buzzard (drifting north), 1 corn bunting (none singing, single bird near manure heap by bridleway), 2 red-legged partridge (arable north of bridleway), 5 chaffinch (1 singing). 15 species in song.
Mon 24th Feb 25
Over the road this morning, 2 Mute Swans, c350 Brent Geese (later on the sea off the sluice), Greylag & Canada Geese, Wigeon & Teal, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Barn Owl.
A walk to French Point and back through the reedbeds gave 4 Stonechat, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Cetti's Warblers and a few Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting.
From the hide: c300 Wigeon, c150 Teal, 36 Shoveler, 10 Shelduck, 10 Mallard, c200 Lapwing, 30+ Curlew, 17 Blk T Godwits, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel.
On the way back 10 Turnstone, 4 Sanderling and 2 Purple Sands were on the sluice rocks and 2 R T Divers were sitting offshore.
Sat 22nd Feb 25
Much quieter on the marsh over the road this morning, just a few Greylag & Canada's, still lots of Wigeon & Teal.
The flat sand of the last week has been replaced by shingle along the front so not so inviting to the small waders.
From the hide: 14 Brent, 7 Canada Geese, c150 Wigeon, c100 Teal, 23 Shoveler, 10 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, c 300 Lapwing, 22 Curlew, 15 Blk T Godwit, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Golden Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Avocet, 2 Buzzard. RJ/MR
Reports from today
Richard Jeffree
16:32 5 Med Gulls on the GC
