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Holland Haven

Essex  >  United Kingdom

A brilliant coastal grazing marsh, low-lying rough grassland, criss-crossed with dykes and waterways. Situated on the southeast coast, with areas of scrubland.

Added* by Nick E. Warner
Most recent update 14 Μαρτίου 2025

Description

Holland Haven has a great reputation for being well watched by local birders. Situated along the coast this area get lots of interesting migrants that drop into the flooded scrape or the scrubland. Right next to the car park is an area of cover with some bushes which are always worth a search though for small passerines such as, Πυροβασιλίσκος, Σταχτομυγοχάφτης, Μαυρομυγοχάφτης and Κιτρινόφρυδος Φυλλοσκόπος.

Then as you walk towards the hide and the scrape, you need to scan the coastline. Here is a concrete structure where you may well find Βραχοσκαλίδρα which the site is well known for. If the tide is low and the mudflats are exposed you may see, (Ευρασιατική) Τουρλίδα, (Ευρωπαϊκός) Στρειδοφάγος, Θαλασσολιμόζα, Αργυροπούλι, Χαλικοκυλιστής and Λευκοσκαλίδρα.

Looking out to sea one may find Σούλα (του Βορά) flying passed and also Κηλιδοβούτι alongside (Ευρωπαϊκή) Μαυρόπαπια and Θαλασσοπρίστης. Plus the usual suspects of gull species .

Now you can walk away from the shoreline up to the ridge where you get a good view over the marsh and grazing meadows. Keep an eye out for overwintering geese, Σταχτόχηνα , Ασπρομέτωπη Χήνα and Canada Goose. Its possible to see (Ευρωπαϊκή) Καλημάνα ,(Ευρασιατική) Τουρλίδα and the odd small party of Σιγλίγουρος feeding in the long grass.

Next is the flooded scrape area for such birds as, (Ευρωπαϊκό) Κιρκίρι, (Ευρωπαϊκό) Σφυριχτάρι, (Ευρασιατική) Χουλιαρόπαπια, Βαρβάρα and Δαχτυλιδόχηνα. Many waders can be spotted including (Ευρωπαϊκή) Αβοκέτα, Κοκκινοσκέλης, Πρασινοσκέλης, Ακτίτης, Δασότρυγγας, (Ευρωπαϊκή) Λιμόζα and Λασποσκαλίδρα.

The marsh and grassland is a great hunting ground for raptors and regularly see Ανθρωποπούλλι, Καλαμόκιρκος, Πετρίτης and the odd Χειμωνόκιρκος.

Details

Access

Holland Haven is northeast of Clacton-on-Sea and located between the towns of Holland-on-Sea and Frinton-on-Sea. Easy to get to by taking the B1032 Frinton Rd out of Holland-on-Sea and the turning to Holland Haven is on your Right, just outside the town. Press P on the map for directions to the parking. The cafe and toilet are back towards the town in a southwest direction.

Terrain and Habitat

Grassland , Scattered trees and bushes , Wetland , Sea , Reedbeds , Pond , Mud flats , Beach

Conditions

Flat , Open landscape

Circular trail

No

Is a telescope useful?

Yes

Good birding season

Spring , Autumn

Best time to visit

Spring migration , Autumn migration

Route

Unpaved road

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle

Birdwatching hide / platform

Yes

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

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