Key: Plain text- Resident/Regular visitor. Green- Likely to be annual. Amber- Less than annual. Red- Rarity. CAPITALS- New bird for site.
Archive: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
January 09
1st - A Happy New Year to you all, lets hope it's a bird filled one. A "dawn to dusk" visit produced 64 species across the entire site on a very cold, grey day with slight winds. Birds included were 2 Firecrests near the toilet block, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 4 Sanderling, 4 Turnstones and 1 Dunlin along the seafront, while on the sewage farm was an adult Yellow legged Gull. 1 Pink footed, 27 White fronted, 1 Brent and 5 Canada Geese were noted, as were Little Owl, Barn Owl, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Little Grebes, 1 Snipe, 14 Blk T Godwits, 17 Curlew, Goldcrests, Stonechats and Golden Plovers. Located on the Farm pond was a drake Tufted Duck. AD/KA. A later report was given of a Bullfinch MJ. taking the species count to 65 for the day.
2nd - A quick afternoon visit to the hide gave views across the scrape of the Pink footed Goose, 27 White fronted Geese, 23 Blk T Godwits and 3 Redshank. 2 Firecrests were still around the toilet block area. A brief seawatch produced nothing of any note. KA.
3rd - Very bright, bitterly cold, dry with very little breeze. The scrape was still totally frozen into the afternoon so nothing to view on it but 2 Water Rails were showing very well on the partially frozen brook. 17 White fronted Geese along with 5 Blk T Godwits were seen on the approach road fields, the Pink footed and 3 Brent Geese were noted, as were 2 Stonechats, c65 Curlew, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 3 Sanderling and 3 Turnstones. 1 Firecrest was located near the toilet block and 1 Bullfinch was behind the approach road. KA/PRD/JDv/JK.
4th - Freezing cold during all visits today. 1 Woodcock flew over the carpark this morning. JBS. 2 Fieldfares were reported. SC. A single Redwing was seen at the farm. 17 Curlew, 12 Blk T Godwits, 7 Brent Geese, 1 Snipe, Little Owl and Kestrel were all viewable from the hide - the scrape still in a frozen state. Another single Redwing was noted on the approach road while near the sluice were 1 of each Turnstone and Stonechat. KA/AD.
6th - A visit in bitterly cold conditions provided very few sightings today. Noted birds included 2 Stonechats, 2 Goldfinch, 4 Snipe, 9 Blk T Godwits and singles of each Sanderling, Redshank and Coot. PRD.
7th - The pond, ditches, brook and scrape were still frozen. An early start proved fruitful with 2 Jack Snipe and 1 Woodcock. AD. Also noted were Fieldfare, Redwing, Kestrel, 5+ Goldcrests and 11 Blk T Godwits. A Woodcock appeared again later in the day. AD/PRD/KA.
8th - Conditions slightly milder but very foggy through out. An early visit saw 1 Firecrest again in the toilet block area while several Goldcrests were amongst a large L T Tit flock along the approach road. AD. A visit over midday provided 2 Stonechats in front of a nearly invisible scrape and on the shoreline were 5 Turnstones and 2 Sanderling with 1 Purple Sandpiper. KA.
9th - Fog again, getting more dense into the afternoon. The main birds of note being 1 Woodcock flying around the carpark area and 1 Firecrest still occupying the toilet block evergreens. A Bullfinch was heard but not seen. PRD.
10th - Bitterly cold but bright with slight mist over the fields. Sightings included in a morning visit were 3 Woodcock, 3 Turnstones, 1 Redshank, 6 Blk T Godwits, 23 Curlew, 1 Sanderling and a single Stonechat. KA. This afternoon saw another Woodcock at the other end of the site, Curlew numbers were up to 85 and a single Purple Sandpiper was along the front. PRD.
11th - Bright and dry. An early start saw 1 Woodcock on the approach road. During the morning, sightings across the scrape area included an adult Yellow legged Gull, 1 adult Med Gull, 18 Blk T Godwits, 41 Golden Plover, 33 Curlew, 2 Turnstones, 2 Stock Doves with singles of Sanderling, Redshank and Stonechat. A Purple Sandpiper was at the sluice, while by the road bridge were 12 Gadwall. AD.
12th - Cold, drizzle with strong S winds. A drake Tufted Duck was on the brook this morning while along the approach road of note, were 2 Bullfinch and 1 Firecrest. GG. The scrape has virtually thawed today and viewed across it were an adult Yellow legged Gull, 3 Gadwall, 25 Blk T Godwits and 33+ Curlew. GG/KA. A S E Owl was reported for today. Leon.
13th - Conditions generally mild. The highlights of today were 6 Waxwings - seen flying over the carpark, they then perched briefly in trees along the approach road before heading SW. Included in sightings from the hide were 1 adult Yellow legged Gull, a 2w Med Gull, 1 Ruff, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Gadwall, 22 Blk T Godwits, 1 Snipe, 1 Redshank and 1 Reed Bunting. Others noted across the entire site included 1 Firecrest, 1 Woodcock, 7 Sanderling, 4 Redwing, 12 Linnet, 2 Skylarks, 250+ Golden Plover and a Tufted Duck. KA/GG/PRD.
14th - A fog bound site today did not stop the viewing of a male Bullfinch. PRD.
15th - A visit in bitterly cold conditions found the site to be reasonably quiet, with amongst the few birds of note 25 Blk T Godwits, 12 Shoveler, 8 Curlew, 4 Turnstone and 2 Stonechats. PRD.
16th - Dull weather and dull birding, with 29 Blk T Godwits, 6 Sanderling and 2 Bullfinches being the highlights. GG.
17th - A brilliant start to the day when the first bird of note and very vocal it was too, was a single Ring-necked Parakeet. Mobbed by corvids, it was seen several times along Church Lane, before it appeared to head W and was lost to view. Shortly afterwards and having to shelter from a down-pour, as the rain eased, we saw the second superb bird of the day as a Great White Egret flew across the Haven and the farmland and continued to head N. GG/KA. Other birds noted across the site included a Gt.Spotted Woodpecker, 8+ Redwings, Fieldfares, 35 Blk T Godwits, 22+ Curlew, 19 Canada Geese, also 2 of each Snipe, Turnstone and Stonechat. KA/GG/AD.
18th - Bright but bitterly cold with very strong W winds. A Jack Snipe was seen for a short while to the right of the hide. JBS. 3 Gt.Spotted Woodpeckers were located at the farm. AD. During the morning into early afternoon, other birds viewed from the hide included 36 Blk T Godwits, 1 Redshank, 19 Curlew, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Turnstone and 2 Stonechats. 2 Turnstones were also on the sluice. JBS/AD/KA/PNs.
19th - Nothing out of the ordinary today. 33 Blk T Godwits, 2 Sanderling, 1 of each Turnstone, Stonechat and Goldcrest were noted. Wigeon and Teal numbers remain high at 800+ and 400+ respectively. 15+ Common Gulls were also seen. PRD.
20th - A visit to the farm provided views of 1 Barn Owl and 3 Redwing. A seawatch gave 4 Red T Divers headed N. PRD.
21st - Mild with slight SSW winds. Most of the time was spent seawatching today which started well with 1 of each Red Throated, Black Throated and Gt.Northern Divers flying S together. These three in a line, literally one behind the other and all in one scope sight, gave superb comparison viewing. GG. A total of 22 Red T Divers were noted along with 5 Common Scoter, 1 Guillemot, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Turnstone, 5 Diver sp. and a very impressive sight was of 46 Sanderling flying on/off the sluice for a short while. Info from Paul at Frinton put us onto a Marsh Harrier coming in towards and then past the Haven. With the exception of 4 divers, all were heading S today. GG/KA. The scrape and fields held 37 Blk T Godwits, 11 Curlew, 1 Snipe, 2 Stonechats, 1 Redshank and Barn Owl. GG/JK/KA.
22nd - A dull day with brisk SW winds. Seawatching this morning saw everything again moving S with an adult Kittiwake, Fulmar and 19 Red T Divers being noted. GG/PRD. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was viewed on the scrape, with 1pr Gadwall and 24+ Blk T Godwits also noted. PRD.
23rd - A day of rain, snow and changeable winds. An hour spent in and around the farm area yielded 150+ Golden Plover, 3 Fieldfare and 5 Redwing of note. PRD.
24th - Bright, freezing and a slight SW breeze. An early visit provided 4 Purple Sandpipers with 2 Turnstones on the sluice. A semi-frozen scrape held amongst others, 1pr Gadwall, 32 Blk T Godwits, 1 Pink footed Goose, 8 Curlew, 23 Shoveler and 4 Turnstones. 6 Goldfinch flew over the carpark. KA.
25th - Heavy rain, cold with strong SSW winds. Early morning and across the scrape was much the same as yesterday with 1pr Gadwall, 1 Pink footed Goose, 35 Blk T Godwits, 6 Turnstones and 12 Curlew. KA. 2 R-T Divers were reported. GEv/A. Mid to late morning, a seawatch provided 2+ Kittiwakes, an adult Med Gull, 1 Black Throated and 6 Red T Divers. 171 Golden Plover were across the fields. AD.
26th - Today's noted birds included 4 Eider and 3 Brent Geese heading N, 3 Red T Divers on the sea and 10 Common Scoter headed S. 2 Ringed Plover were on the beach, 1 Pink footed Goose, 2 Gadwall, 44 Curlew, 8 Turnstone with 23+ Blk T Godwits were on the scrape, while 2 Stonechats and 35+ Meadow Pipits were seen between the hide and the golf course. PRD.
27th - Cold but bright with a light SSW wind and a very calm sea. Quiet across the entire site today with the scrape holding 1 Pink Footed Goose, 2 Gadwall, 19 Blk T Godwits, 1 Golden Plover and 9 Turnstones. 2 Ringed Plovers were also located. Two sessions at seawatching produced 3 R-B Mergansers (1d+2fem), 1 Red T Diver, 3 Shelduck, 1 Dunlin, 1 Brent Goose and 1 Diver sp. all S. Also noted were 2 Purple Sandpipers. GG/PRD/KA.
28th - Dull with drizzle and a SSW wind, little movement at sea with only 1 Purple Sandpiper, 2 Sanderling and a Turnstone noted. KA. The scrape was much the same with 1 Pink Footed Goose, 2 Gadwall, 26 Blk T Godwits, 1 Dunlin, 4 Turnstones. 2 Ringed Plovers and a single Stonechat seen. GG.
29th - Dry, very bright with brisk icy S winds. This morning from the hide were noted 1 Water Rail, again 1 Pink footed Goose, 1pr Gadwall, 1 Turnstone and 24+ Blk T Godwits. A single Turnstone was on the sluice. KA. Seen later in the day, a single juv White fronted Goose was among Greylags. PRD.
30th - Dry, freezing cold with strong S winds. A Grey Wagtail was noted by the sewage farm this morning. GG. The scrape - birds much as per yesterday morning with 1 Pink footed Goose, 1 Water Rail, 2 Gadwall, 44 Blk T Godwits, 4 Turnstones and 61+ Curlew. GG/KA. On the shore 6+ Sanderling were noted. KA.
31st - Bitterly cold, dry with strong E winds. Morning visits saw 10 Sanderling, 2 Purple Sandpiper and 5 Turnstones on the shore. An adult Yellow legged Gull was located on the sewage farm and the scrape held of note 1pr Gadwall, 1 Pink footed Goose, 49 Blk T Godwits, 1 Snipe, 3 Turnstones and 10 Shelduck. AD/GG/JK/KA.
