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, tulipäähippiäinen, harmaasieppo, kirjosieppo and taigauunilintu.
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 merisirri which the site is well known for. If the tide is low and the mudflats are exposed you may see, kuovi, meriharakka, punakuiri, tundrakurmitsa, karikukko and pulmussirri.
Looking out to sea one may find suula flying passed and also kaakkuri alongside mustalintu and tukkakoskelo. 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, merihanhi , tundrahanhi and kanadanhanhi. Its possible to see töyhtöhyyppä ,kuovi and the odd small party of pikkukuovi feeding in the long grass.
Next is the flooded scrape area for such birds as, tavi, haapana, Lapasorsa, ristisorsa and sepelhanhi. Many waders can be spotted including avosetti, punajalkaviklo, valkoviklo, rantasipi, metsäviklo, mustapyrstökuiri and suosirri.
The marsh and grassland is a great hunting ground for raptors and regularly see tornipöllö, ruskosuohaukka, muuttohaukka and the odd sinisuohaukka.
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.


