Oct07
31st - Very quiet on the scape this morning, with only 1 Ruff and 6 Curlew present then a Little Stint made a very brief visit by flying in from the N ran around for c1 minute the flew off back to were it came from. A Peregrine flew across the scrape in the direction of the church.Flyovers were 2 Redpolls and 14 Siskins S, A Grey Wagtail was feeding along the sea wall, 10 Skylarks in off the sea.GG. An afternoon visit produced a S E Owl and 2 Peregrines 1 adult female and a juvenile male, Also a Wheatear along th seawall. PBr.
30th - The RBA pager reported no sign of the Phalarope today.
29th - The Grey Phalarope was still present this morning, though distant and favouring the back righthand corner of the scrape, still 8 Blk T Godwits and 5 Ruff, also 14 Golden Plovers and 11 Curlews. 12 Stonechats still present and flyovers included 10 Skylarks S, 6 Siskin N and 1 Redpoll S. A confiding Fieldfare was feeding on the path. GG.
28th - Early morning on the scrape were 8 Blk T Godwits,3 Ruff and 2 Dunlin. GG. An afternoon visit in blustery conditions paid dividends in the form of a Grey Phalarope seen from the hide while feeding around the muddy edges!!!, also 5 Ruff, 3 Dunlin. PRD/GG/KA/JBS/SC/PC/PR/LR.
27th - Quieter today with no sign of either of the warblers despite lots of searching, highlights were 1 Firecrest (AK) and 2 Swallows heading south. On the scrape early morning were 2 Ruff, 3 Blackwits, 1 Dunlin, 1 Golden Plover and 9 Brent Geese. An early morning movement of 25+ Skylarks, 60+ Goldfinch also 12 Stonechats throughout the site. GG
26th - Pallas's Warbler showing well today and the reappearance of the Yellow-Browed Warbler also showing well on and off, 3 Crossbills flew over. AK
25th - The Pallas's Warbler is still present and continues to be elusive in the sallows, info from the RBA pager.
24th - RBA pager reporting Pallas's Warbler still present but elusive.............
23rd - The Pallas's Warbler is still present in the sallows but still elusive, also 2+ Bearded Tits still in the golf course reeds and Rock Pipit along the seawall.JBS
22nd - Another great bird for the site was found this morning, while watching the Yellow-Browed Warbler a Pallas's Warbler was also located both birds were mainly in the sallows by the carpark pay machine but both were elusive and best located by call. PRD/TC/GG/KA/SC/PR/LR. 2 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 2 Golden Plovers and the hybrid duck were on the scrape. KA/PRD/GG. Flyovers were 2 Grey Wagtails, 5 Redpolls, 5 Bramblings
21st - After an enjoyable Scillies trip it was back to the Haven this morning, and a couple of decent birds were seen.The scrape levels are now perfect for waders (shame it was not like this during the main wader passage!!) Seen were 2 Ruff, 1 Dunlin, 22+ Snipe, a Water Rail calling and 10 Curlew. Flyovers were 3 Redpolls N, 1 Grey Wagtail W, 11 Redwings and 3 Fieldfares N. 1 Chiffchaff and 5 Goldcrests were in the approach roads bushes and a Brambling was feeding along the gravel path.GG.3 Bearded Tits (1 male) were in the reeds by the golf course and a single Snow Bunting was feeding along the seawall.PBr/GG/PRD/KA.Late evening a Pallas's Warbler was seen in a small tit flock by the carpark ticket machine, though elusive. PRD.
19th - Only 2 Ruff on the scrape, but 10 Stonechats, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Little Owl, 12 Fieldfares and several Redwings were observed. JBS/KA.
17th - On the scrape were 4 Ruff, 14 Snipe and 22 Curlews, also seen 2 Stonechats, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Wheatear, 1 Redwing. SC.
16th - Again a afternoon visit, 2 Ruff, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Blk T Godwit and large numbers of Snipe were seen. JBS.
15th - A late afternoon visit produced 1 Ruff, 1 Blk T Godwit and 18 Snipe. KA.
13th - A single Firecrest was in with the tit flock this morning. AT.
11th - Birds reported were 3 Little Stints, 17 Snipe and 3 Wheatears. KA.
10th - On the scrape were 7 Little Stints, 1 Ruff and a interesting duck turning out to be a Falcated duck x Wigeon hybrid, also seen was a Peregrine and a Wheatear. SC.
Off to Scillies for the next couple of weeks! Will update when possible or on return
9th - A new bird for the Haven was found by Pete Davis this afternoon, a 2w CASPIAN GULL was on the scrape. It was present until c1530 hrs then flew to the farm fields, but could not be relocated.5 Little Stints still there.PRD/GG.
8th - 10+ Goldcrests were around the boat yard and a Blackcap in the tit flock, flyovers were 2 Bramblings and 12 Siskins N.On the scrape Little Stints are now up to 8, also 2 Ruff, 1 Dunlin and 8 Blk T Godwits.GG.This afternoon a Rock Pipit was on the sluice rocks and best of all a Red Necked Grebe flew S.PRD/KA/GG.
6th - Around the bushes was quite, 60+ Goldfinches perched up for a while before flying NE. 2 Redwings and 5 Stonechats were also noted. On the scrape 5 Little Stints, 4 Ruff, 7 Blk T Godwits, 1 Ringed Plover and 25 Snipe.KA.1 Firecrest also seen.JBS.
5th - No known sightings of the Shrike today and generally tough going with 4 Little Stints, 6 Ruff, 3 Blk T Godwits, 30 Snipe and a 2W Med Gull on the scrape.2 Redpolls and 10 Siskins flew N, and very little at sea with only 2 Gannets and 30 Brent Geese noted.PRD.
4th - Again the Great Grey Shrike still showing from the bridge, but does go missing occasionally.Flyovers this morning were 21 Siskins, 18 Redpolls, 100+ Meadow Pipits, 100+ Goldfinches and 15+ Skylarks.Around the mound were 2 Redstarts and 5 Wheatears, 12 Stonchats.On the scrape 4 Little Stints were still present and 3 Ruff, 1 B T Godwit, 3 Sandwich Terns.GG.
3rd - The Great Grey Shrike was showing well this morning, best viewed form the road bridge looking north.JBS/GG/PRD.Despite the deluge of decent birds at the Naze we could not dig out much here.Noted were 2 Bramblings, 6 Redpolls, 8 Siskins, 1 Yellow Wagtail S, 2 Wheatears,40+ Redwings, 4 Fieldfare, 5 Stonechats and 270+ Swallows on the wires.At sea a Arctic Skua chased the gulls then went N and a steady stream of Brent Geese were noted.GG. Late afternoon 2 Ring Ouzel 1m/1f and a Firecrest were by the picnic area.JBS. A further Firecrest was seen and the Black throated Diver was again on the sea.KA/GG.
2nd - Another eventfull day. On the scrape this morning were 6 Little Stints, 8 Ruff, 5 Blk T Godwits and an adult Little Gull. JBS. A moulting adult Black throated Diver was drifting around on the sea, 4 Common Scoter flew S. JBS.24 Brambling were around the sewage farm tree's.JBS. Early evening an adult Great Grey Shrike was found at the rear of the sewage farm and a male Ring Ouzel was by the bridge at the brook.JBS.
1st - A seawatch between 0805-0905 in strong easterly conditions produced 1 Sooty Shearwater, 2 adult Little Gulls, 3 Kittiwakes, 4 Gannets and a adult Med Gull all going N.GG. A further look out to sea between 1000-1035 produced a further Sooty Shearwater and 1 Gannet N, 2 Common Scoter S.GG/JBS. A Firecrest was seen by the carpark.GG, and 2 more reported by the boatyard. PB.