Mon 31st Mar 25

There were a few more birds around first thing over the road incl. Linnet, Chaffinch, Meadow Pipit, Cetti's warbler, Chiffchaff along the brook and c30 Blk H Gulls, 20 Herring Gulls, 6 Med Gulls, 2 LBB Gulls, 2 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 4 Wigeon on the flood.

On the main site 6+ Chiffchaff, 2 more Cetti's Warblers a Blackcap and a Song Thrush were singing in the orchard area.

From the Hide: 4 Egyptian Geese, 2 Greylag, 2 Brent Geese, Wigeon & Teal, 12 Shoveler, 8 Shelduck, 8 Mallard, 38 Curlew, 20+ Lapwing, 17 Avocet, 6 Blk T Godwit, 3 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Pied Wags, 2 Yellow Wagtails (DW), 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk. DW/MO'H/MR

4 Purple Sands were on the rocks north of the sluice on a walk to French Point MO'H/MR

A Common Seal was hauled out on the same rocks late afternoon.

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

10:29 2 Yellow Wags on the flood, one of which possible grey headed.

12:07 4 Purple Sands on rocks north of the sluice.

Pete Loud

14:32 Pair of Grey Wagtails on path by Sewage Farm and male Yellow wagtail on flood from hide.

At the end of March the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 112.

 

Sun 30th Mar 25

Richard and I picked up our first Blackcap of the year this morning in the approach road wood and a Little Ringed Plover on the flood to the right of the hide was a site year tick.

From the Hide: 4 Egyptian Geese, 4 Canada Geese, Wigeon & Teal, 16 Shelduck, 14 Shoveler, 12 Mallard, 23 Avocet, c20 Lapwing, 6 Blk T Godwit, 3 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Lt R Plover, 1 Snipe, 2 Grey Heron, c50 Herring Gulls, c20 Blk H Gulls, 3 GBB's, 2 Pied Wags, 2 White Wags, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, Linnet & Reed Bunting. PL/RJ/MR.

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

10:36 4 Egyptian Geese from layby or hide.

10:57 LRP on flood now with the Egyptian Geese.

 

Sat 29th Mar 25

Much the same around the site this morning, all the same stuff on the scrape but numbers down a bit, the Grey Wagtails were nice and the Water Vole put in a brief appearance. RJ/MR/TR/ML et.al. 

Reports from today

Matt Lonsdale

07:35 Blackcap singing dipping pond.

09:24 Haven this morning- 3 Blackcap singing (dipping pond, memorials, ringing compound). Pair of Grey Wags by sewage work gates, 4 Chiff and 4 Blackwit on scrape.

 

Fri 28th Mar 25

Today's highlight was the return of the Water Vole, not quite in the same league as yesterdays Eagle but something we have been working for all year.

From the hide: 7 Greylag, 6 Canada Geese, Wigeon, Teal, c20 Shoveler, 16 Shelduck, 12 Mallard, 29 Avocet, c20 Lapwing, 8 Snipe, 7 Blk T Godwits, 2 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew, Blk H Gulls, 5 Common Gulls, 4 Med Gulls, 2 Lt. Egrets, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff. RJ/DC/MO'H/MR et. al.

Richard Jeffree

08:49 7 Purps on rocks haven bay.

Matt Lonsdale

08:55 2 White Wags on flood right of hide

Simon Cox

11:37 10 Med Gulls on Frinton golf-c earlier this morning. 2 metal ringed, no darvic's seen.

 

Thurs 27th Mar 25

Another amazing day at the Haven, sadly no sign of the Ring Ouzel this morning but one of the Black Redstarts was still in that area, a walk around the bushes gave lots of singing Chiffchaffs but not much else.

From the hide all was much the same Wigeon & Teal, 18 Shelduck, 11 Shoveler, 1 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 27 Avocet (incl NB/YO), c20 Lapwing, 3 Blk T Godwit, 3 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Snipe, 7 Med Gulls, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cetti's Warbler. RJ/MO'H/DG/TR/PL et.al.

A walk to Sandy Point was uneventful but for another Blk Redstart at the point, but shortly after we started our walk back it all changed, Richard glanced behind and the huge frame of a White-tailed Eagle came over the seawall and drifted over the golf course toward Gt Holland, turning to the west it still looked massive as it headed over the B1032, not a bird we were expecting to say the least. RJ/MO'H/MR

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Reports from today

Pete Loud

09:30 Willow Warbler in the little copse opposite the Dell.

12:04 3 Red Kites circling over arable behind Scrape

Richard Jeffree

10:53 1st summer Black Red Sandy PT 3rd pillbox.

11:06 White-tailed Sea Eagle (1st year) in off towards Great Holland.

Dick Groves

One of the two seen today at HH.
Photo Dick Groves©

 

Wed 26th Mar 25

Reports from today

Brian Combes

06:14 Black Redstart just south of Frinton beach huts on path.

07:03 Black Redstart council compound (different bird).

07:24 Ring Ouzel still in Dell though elusive.

08:31 Blackcap singing by raised platform.

10:01 Black Redstart on seawall south of raised tee.

10:15 Little Owl. Back of golf course by footpath.

17:23 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via the farm this morning included: 1 ring ouzel, 2 black redstart (1 first summer male mobile between Frinton beach huts and northern pillbox, 1 female type council enclosure), 1 wheatear, 1 blackcap (in subsong, first bird of the year), 1 redwing (north), 2 goldcrest, 2 purple sandpiper, 12 starling (north), 7 Cetti’s (singing), 8 med gull (3 pairs golf course, 1 pair scrape; 1 bird colour ringed - lower right yellow), 7 linnet, 9 reed bunting (1 singing), 12 mipit (2 singing), 5 oystercatcher, 4 chiff (singing), 28 avocet, 3 hare, 3 redshank, 4 black-tailed godwit, 2 goldfinch (north), 1 greenfinch, 12 buzzard (including 2 north and 8 kettling, drifting high to the west over arable), 4 red-throated diver (2 north, 2 on the sea), 1 snipe, 2 gadwall, 2 Chinese muntjac, 2 song thrush (1 singing), 2 corn bunting (1 singing, halfway along bridleway), 1 little owl, 2 sparrowhawk (2 drifting very high north). 19 species in song.

Mike O'Hanlon

08:01 Ring Ouzel still present at Dell.

08:19 Male Wheatear on Boating club rocks.

11:34 Male Wheatear on bramble by moth enclosure

Richard Jeffree

09:43 Merlin flew over hide.

12:22 1st summer male Black Redstart below raised tee.

16:10 Out on my bike now there's no one here Ring Ouzel showing well usual corner.

Also of note some Bearded Tits were heard today between the Moth Sanctuary and the Boardwalk (Kattie) and a Red Kite drifted through the site mid-morning

 

Tues 25th Mar 25

Another good day at the Haven, the Ring Ouzel was still around and showed well on and off for most of the morning, a Cetti's Warbler was very vocal around the Dell, and 3 Purple Sands and 7 Turnstone were on the rocks below the shelter.

From the Hide: 4 Canada Geese, c100 Wigeon, c 60 Teal, c20 Shoveler, 16 Shelduck, 12 Mallard, 20+ Lapwing, 18 Avocet, 8 Curlew, 7 Blk T Godwit, 3 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, 30+ Blk H Gulls, 6 Common Gulls, 2 Med Gulls, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Reed Bunting BH/MR

A walk to Sandy Point added a Black Redstart (probably the bird Richard had a bit later at the beach huts) and on the way back a cracking male Wheatear.

 Back at the Dell the Ring Ouzel was still about and 2 Red Kites drifted over heading S/E.

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon 

10:38 Ring Ouzel still here.

11:25 2 Purps on rocks just north of sluice.

Richard Jeffree

13:30 Sand Martin in off.

14:00 1st summer male Black Redstart beach huts.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Pete Loud

13:25 Female Black Redstart on fence just north of seawatching shelter near dell.