Wed 31st Dec 25

On a walk along the front today we found 3 Purple Sands on the rocks south of Sandy Pt. Plus 3 Stonechat and 3 Wren around the marsh.

From the hide: 100+ Greylag, 16 Barnacle Geese, 300+ Wigeon, c100 Teal, 12 Shoveler, 1 Shelduck, c100 Lapwing, 26 Curlew, 2 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Pied Wags, 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk RJ/MO'H/BH/MR et.al. 

At the end of December the number of species recorded at the Haven this year stands at 174.

 

Tues 30th Dec 25

A much quieter morning, most of the geese seem to have moved on leaving just the usual  Greylags and Canada Geese

From the hide: 20+ Greylags (most of the geese were over the road), c300 Wigeon (more sitting on the sea), c80 Teal, 13 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, c80 Lapwing, 25 Curlew, 1 Snipe, a few Blk H Gulls, 2 Peregrine, 1 Grey Heron. PL/RJ/MO'H/DC/MR et.al.

On the return 2 Purple Sands were on the beach north of the sluice and a pair of Stonechat on the mounds.MR.

Mon 29th Dec 25

Lots of gulls on the sluice rocks and beach on the way to the hide, at least two of which were colour ringed. Unfortunately only one was noted before two clowns climbed over the railings and wandered out to the end of the sluice and set up their fishing gear, flushing all the birds. 2 Purple Sands remained on the beach north of the sluice and 3 Goosander flew south.

Sadly no sign of the White-fronted Geese this morning but plenty of other geese around.

From the hide: 130+ Greylag, 26 Canada Geese (+ a very interesting hybrid), 15 Barnacle Geese, several hundred Wigeon (many spending long periods sitting on the sea offshore), 150+ Teal, 18 Shoveler, 2 Shelduck, c150 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, RJ/MO'H/TR/MR

Hybrid Goose Photo Richard Jeffree©

Hybrid Wigeon, Photo Richard Jeffree©

 

Sun 28th Dec 25

From the hide: 200+ Greylag, c20 Barnacle Geese, 4 Brent Geese, 2 W F Geese, c500 Wigeon, c200 Teal, 16 Shoveler, 6 Mallard, 2 Shelduck, 400+ Lapwing, 22 Curlew, 1 Snipe, Herring & Blk H Gulls, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, SC/RJ/TR/MR

On the way back to the cars, 2 large rafts of Wigeon were sitting on the sea offshore and 3 Purple Sands and a Sanderling were on the beach. RJ/MR

Reports from today: 

Simon Cox

11:34 Single Purple S & Sanderling near sluice (latter flushed by dog), pair Stonechats nearby.

 

Sat 27th Dec 25

From the hide: 150+ Greylag, 26 Barnacle geese, 5 Brent Geese, 4 W F Geese (below the raised Platform, not all viewable), 2 Egyptian Geese, Wigeon (several hundred), 100+ Teal, 17 Shoveler, 3 Shelduck, 200+ Lapwing, c80 Golden Plover, 28 Curlew, 1 Redshank, Herring & Blk H Gulls, 1 Caspian Gull, 1 Common Gull, 1 GBB Gull, 2 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. RJ/LHMR

Liz Huxley had 8 Purple Sands & 2 Sanderling on the walk in from Frinton.

 

A quick visit to the hide on Christmas Eve showed that the hoped for influx of geese on the cold front moving down from the north with easterly winds had actually happened, with Barnacle Geese and White-fronted in with a large flock of Greylags.

Wed 24th Dec 25

Richard Jeffree

10:06 2 Whitefronts + 12 Barnacles right of hide

10:10 Correction 15+ Whitefronts

11:02 Adult Caspian Gull scrape

11:20 Now 3 adult Caspo's

Pete Loud

15:23 Barnacles up to 23 this afternoon, just a quick visit, only picked out 4 White front, but they were at the back of the marsh and difficult with only bins, so probably more..

Fri 26th Dec 25

Brian Combes

09:04 Haven: 15+ Russian White-fronts still on marshes south of scrape, 2 adult Caspian Gull on beach.

16:48 Brief walk from Frinton to the scrape first thing this morning included: 15+ white-fronted goose, 2 Caspian gull (on beach north of French Point first thing then flew north), 7 red-throated diver (south), 7 purple sandpiper (feeding on beach north of French Point, first thing), 22 curlew, 1 turnstone, 1 sanderling, 24 barnacle goose, 250+ wigeon, 300+ brent goose (single flock south), 1 buzzard.

Richard Jeffree

14:59 Who doesn't love a Purple Sand on their boxing day walk.

Photo Richard Jeffree©

Photo Richard Jeffree©

15:00  Other highlights were 27 Barnacles, 15 Whitefronts, Caspian Gull and Peregrine

 

Tues 23rd Dec 25

Reports from today

Richard Jeffree

12:56 Haven today 200 Greylag, 35 Brent, 20 Shoveller, 3 Shelduck, Teal + Widgeon uncounted, 15 Curlew, 30+ Lapwing, 2 Buzzard, 1 each of Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel also 6 Purple Sands on rocks below French Pt.

No posts for the next few days, will catch up after Christmas.

Wishing you all a  

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year