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, Красноголовый королёк, Серая мухоловка, Мухоловка-пеструшка and Зарничка.
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 Морской песочник which the site is well known for. If the tide is low and the mudflats are exposed you may see, Большой кроншнеп, Кулик-сорока, Малый веретенник, Тулес, Камнешарка and Песчанка.
Looking out to sea one may find Северная олуша flying passed and also Краснозобая гагара alongside Синьга and Длинноносый крохаль. 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, Серый гусь , Белолобый гусь and Канадская казарка. Its possible to see Чибис ,Большой кроншнеп and the odd small party of Средний кроншнеп feeding in the long grass.
Next is the flooded scrape area for such birds as, Чирок-свистунок, Свиязь, Широконоска, Пеганка and Чёрная казарка. Many waders can be spotted including Шилоклювка, Травник, Большой улит, Перевозчик, Черныш, Большой веретенник and Чернозобик.
The marsh and grassland is a great hunting ground for raptors and regularly see Сипуха, Болотный лунь, Сапсан and the odd Полевой лунь.
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.


