Wed 30th Apr 25

Just a quick visit to the hide today.

From the hide: 6 Canada Geese, 22 Shelduck, 10+ Mallard, 8 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 19 Blk T Godwit, 11 Avocet, 10 Lapwing (+chicks), 3 Redshank, 1 Snipe, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler. SC/RJ/MO'H/BH/MR et.al.

2 Green Hairstreaks were still in the hide bushes.

Mike O'Hanlon

09:03 2 Grey Wags on the track by Sewer works then flew over hedge into compound.

Pete Loud

11:11 Greenshank landed on edge of pond to right of hide.

At the end of April the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 132.

 

Tues 29th Apr 25

A nice addition to the year list today with a Wood Sandpiper,  first on Leon's Marsh before being lost to view behind the island, the two Yellow Wagtails (form lutea) seen yesterday showed briefly so are still around the area. 

From the hide: 6 Canada Geese, 22 Shelduck, 10+ Mallard (+7+ chicks), 9 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall,  13 Avocet, 8 Lapwing (7+ Chicks) 5 Blk T Godwit, 4 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Snipe, 1 Wood Sand, 2 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Bearded Tit, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Pied Wagtails, 6+ Swallows. PL/MO'H/DW/MR

Reports from today

Pete Loud

17:05 Good morning at the haven today, 6 Sandwich Tern north in 3 groups of 2 and 3 Common Tern north. Wood Sandpiper initially very close on Leon’s marsh then flew to back of Scrape then seemed to disappear from view, failing to relocate it. Pair of Grey Wagtail were feeding on back of Scrape, and presumably are breeding in the sewage farm somewhere. Good to see the pair of Bearded Tits on the Island reed bed as they bred there a couple of years ago and surely must be a good chance of that being repeated this year. The yellowheaded (lutea) yellow Wag was a lovely bright bird and I think it has been around for a couple of weeks or so as I think I saw it a while back without realising what it was, unfortunately today it went missing after about 10 minutes on view. A Snipe seen briefly in flight, seemed small and showed no white in tail, could have been a Jack but it was distant and dropped into the ditch behind the dry flood.

Mike O'Hanlon

20:35 12 Whimbrels on the GC by Sandy Point.

 

Mon 28th Apr 25

A beautiful morning and everything much the same as yesterday. A new brood of four Lapwing chicks was good, but only one of the previous four was seen today, no sign of the Common Sand but a single Bar-tailed Godwit was new on the scrape, otherwise numbers as yesterday. BH/DW/MR

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

11:55 2 Sandwich Terns off the seawall heading north, north of French Point

12:07 Now perched on floating wood 0.5 miles offshore.

13:31 Interesting male flava on dried flood, possibly yellow headed wagtail (form lutea)

13:36 plus another Yellow Wag on dried flood.

 

Sun 27th Apr 25

The first Cuckoo of the year was heard but not seen over the road this morning along with Lesser & Common Whitethroat, Cetti's, Reed & Sedge Warbler, Linnet, Blackcap, 2 Grey Heron & 6+ Swallows around the humpback bridge. The Song Thrush was still singing at the Dipping Pond. On the way to the hide the first Small Heath butterfly of the year was seen near the wind pump.

From the hide: 7 Canada Geese, 18 Shelduck, 12 Teal, 10 Mallard, 7 Shoveler, c10 Lapwing (2 chicks seen today), 9 Avocet, 7 Blk T Godwit, 4 Redshank, 1 Common Sand, 2 Grey Heron, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, Linnet. MO'H/MR.

The only highlight on a walk to French Pt. was 25+ Whimbrel on the point rocks that relocated to the golf course as the tide came in.

 

Sat 26th Apr 25

Around the bushes this morning was much the same as the last few days, at the Dell I bumped into Ed Bateman who had been having a 3hr seawatch (see report below). 

A walk to French Point showed we still have at least 2 Purple Sands on the rocks south of the point, now starting to show some signs of their summer plumage.

From the hide: 8 Canada Geese, 26 Shelduck, 10+ Mallard, 10+ Teal, 6 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 4 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, c10 Lapwing, 6 Avocet, 5 Blk T Godwits, 4 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sand, 18 Herring Gull, 15 Blk H Gull, 1 LBB, 5 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Linnet, Reed Bunting.

On leaving, the first Green Hairstreak butterfly of the year was seen just outside the hide.

Reports from today

Ed Bateman

07:00 3hr seawatch: 4 Eider (2m 2f drifting south on sea), 9 Com Scoter, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Kittiwake (juv. flew N), 3 Little Tern (N), 4 Common Tern, 10 Sandwich Tern, 2 Red-throated Diver, 1 Fulmar (S).

 

 

Fri 25th Apr 25

An interesting seawatch this morning with 2 new birds for the site year list Garganey seen by Mike and Steve first thing and Red B Merganser seen around 09:00 and also several additions to individual lists with Brent Goose, Shelduck, Gt. C Grebe, Cormorant, Sandwich Tern, Gannet, Whimbrel, Oystercatcher, Bar T Godwit, Common Scoter, Fulmar, Med Gulls, Swallow also noted. 

From the hide: & Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 11 Shelduck, 10 Mallard, 8 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 11 Avocet, 8+ Lapwing (+4 chicks), 5 Blk T Godwit, 3 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Snipe, 1 Common Sand, 2 Common Gulls, 2 Lt Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler. MO'H/DC/MR/ et.al. 

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

07:24 Sea watch summary so far at Haven since 0630 - pair of Garganey, 3 Sandwich Terns, 5 Whimbrel, adult Gannet.

07:57 Further update since 0724 - Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit. 3 Common Scoter (all north).

08:32 Further update - another Whimbrel and a Fulmar north.

 

Thurs 24th Apr 25

A much nicer day today but little change bird wise, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler singing all over, and the Song Thrush still at the Dipping Pond.

From the hide: 7 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 28 Shelduck, 10 Teal, 8 Mallard (+2 ducklings), 5 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, c10 Lapwing (still 4 chicks), 4 Avocet, 3 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Blk T Godwits, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2+ Lt Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, 50+ Herring Gulls, 20+ Blk H Gulls, 11 Common Gulls, 1 LBB, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Linnet, c10 Swallows, 2 Sand Martin, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. LP/MO'H/MR et.al.

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

08:49 13 Whimbrel sitting on rocks at French Point.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

10:43 Probable 3 Common Scoter north through the Haven