Thurs 31st July 25

Reports from today

Brian Combes

07:14 Haven: Whinchat south of ‘wooden  hide’.

17:27 Walk from Frinton to Haven and back via the farm this morning included: 1 whinchat, 1 stonechat (juv, golf course dump), 1 cuckoo (juv flew over scrape), 1 grey wag (over sewage works), 1 green sandpiper, 1 ruff, 6+ common sandpiper (6 together on sea defences by French Point, 4 on the scrape were probably additional), 2 reed warbler, 8+ willow warbler, 6+ chiff, 98+ swallow (including 16 south, 30+ marsh west of carpark, 30+ over farm), 8 house martin, 17 pied wag, 2 green woodpecker, 13 linnet, 10+ sand martin, 20+ whitethroat, 10+ lesser whitethroat, 90+ starling (golf course first thing), 2 greenfinch (juvs), 5+ blackcap, 4 swift, 2 curlew, 2 avocet, 1 teal, 10 whimbrel (1 golf course first thing, flock of 9 south), 1 corn bunting.

Three of a group of 6 common sandpipers this morning.
Photo Brian Combes©

At the end of July the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 145.

 

Wed 30th July 25

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

10:51 Ruff on Leon’s and a Hobby hunting over scrape, marsh and arable.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Richard Jeffree

11:54 Wheatear boardwalk.

Pete Loud

14:02 Very busy around the bushes this morning, with Willow Warblers well into double figures, Garden Warbler was a first for the site year list, lots of Common & Lesser Whitethroats and several each of Blackcap, Reed Warbler & Chiffchaff. On the Scrape was a fine moulting ad male Ruff, joined by a Green Sandpiper and 2 Common Sandpiper, 6Teal, 3 Avocet (1 ad &  2 juvs), 2 Curlew and a Hobby that put on a show around the Scrape for half an hour. (RJ, MO’H,PL).

 

Tues 29th July 25

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

08:58  Adult Cattle Egret back of scrape juv on Leon's, 2 Common, 1 Green Sand so far.

Mike O'Hanlon

10:30 Moulting male Whinchat on the marsh near site of old wooden hide (with PL and RJ)

11:48 Juv Whinchat just north of hide.

Photo Mike O'Hanlon©

Pete Loud

14:35 Quick roundup of Haven this morning. Bushes fairly quiet with a north westerly airflow, just a few Common and Lesser Whitethroat & 3 Willow Warblers. From the Scrape Hide, 2 Green Sands, 3 Common Sands, 5 Curlew & a flyover Black t Godwit. 1 Adult and 1 Juvenile Cattle Egret, that later on got in with the Cattle on the marsh. Walk to Sandy Point and back, 2 Whinchat & 1 Juvenile Stonechat, plus 1 Sandwich Tern offshore, Good Swift passage south late morning.(MO’H,RJ,PL)

 

Mon 28th July 25

The juvenile Cattle Egret was still on the scrape this morning before flying out late morning and dropping into the marsh over the road, 3 adult Avocet spent a very peaceful morning in the middle of the scrape, otherwise 2 Common and 1 Green Sand was about it.

From the hide: 1 Greylag, 3 Teal, 2 Mallard, 28 Lapwing, 3 Avocet, 2 Common Sands, 1 Green Sand, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Cattle Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 84 Blk H Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 2 Herring Gulls, 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel.

 

Sun 27th July 25

At last the Avocets have finished their breeding and have all left the scrape, so we hope for a bit of calm to greet the Autumn migrants. 3 Common Sands, 2 Green Sands, and a Juv. Cattle Egret were the highlights today. 15 Cormorant were heading south offshore on the way to the hide

From the hide: 4 Mallard, 4 Teal, 10+ Lapwing, 3 Common Sands, 2 Green Sands, 1 Oystercatcher, 40+ Blk H Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 2 LBB Gulls, 1 Cattle Egret, 4 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, Reed & Sedge Warbler. RJ/MO'H/MR et.al.

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

10:32 Juv. Cattle Egret back of scrape + 2 each of Common & Green Sand.

 

Sat 26th July 25

Reports from today

Mike O'Hanlon

15:50 This morning’s visit by myself and Richard Jeffree - (Around the Dell) Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff. 

(From the Hide) 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Avocets, 9 Teal, 14 Lapwings, 2 Oystercatchers , 2 Mallard, 5 Buzzard, 100 + Sand Martins, 100 + Swallows + a few Swifts and House Martins, 80+ BHGs.

 

Fri 25th July 25

Reports from today

Pete Loud

12:55 Very lively round the bushes today early morning. The burnt area on the Dell was again very good with several of both Lesser and Common Whitethroat, Reed  Warbler, Chiffchaff and mixed Tit flock. Very large mixed Tit flock in the bottom hedge just south of the raised platform held our first Willow Warblers of the Autumn, 1 adult and 2 or 3 juveniles, several Chiffchaff including juveniles and a few of each of Blackcap, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and lots of Long t Tits, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. Scrape very quiet as we wait for the water level to drop a little after the recent rains, just 1 Common Sand & 2 Avocet, 1 Marsh Harrier. Nice Summer plumaged Turnstone on the rocks of French Point.(RJ,PL,MO’H, MR).