(September-November).

The highlight of the season was undoubtedly the four short-eared owls seen hunting Hale Marsh.

Short-eared Owl   RPC 

   On the 6^th September 120 teal were present on the decoy increasing to 165 by 13^th, 267 by 3rd October and just over 300 in mid October. 

Teal    CAC 

Mallard numbers peaked at 47 on the 3^rd Oct, mainly feeding on acorns that had fallen into the pond. The first wigeon of the season returned with four on 6^th September, increasing to 14 by the 30^th. Small parties of shoveler were present on pools on the marsh during September, with a maximum of 18 being recorded on one occasion.

The little egrets continued to roost on the decoy all through September coming in at dusk: but numbers were lower than August, with eight being the most counted.  By the beginning of October the roost seemed to have dispersed but a little egret was seen roosting with ten grey herons in the trees during a spell of windy weather. A large flock of 300 wood pigeons and 20 stock doves were roosting in the trees at night on the decoy.

A gadwall was present on Hale Marsh on the 1^st September together with a ringed plover and a green sandpiper. 750 lapwings were roosting on the marsh on the 3^rd September and for the next week or so but they were continually harassed by a male peregrine. There was very heavy rain during early Sept and on the 6^th & 7^th another garganey was noticed (a male in eclipse plumage this time) Two black-tailed godwits stayed for over a week. Snipe numbers increased with 18 recorded on one day, with another two green sandpipers.  

Several Southern hawker dragonflies and a couple of common darters were seen during September; both species were seen laying eggs in the ditches around the pond. The red admiral butterflies were still flying until mid October.

Common darter   CAC

   The first siskins of autumn arrived on 13^th September while there were still six chiffchaffs present. A grey wagtail was around on the 3^rd October and watched on several other dates too. A kingfisher was in attendance on several days during late September and October and was seen to catch several sticklebacks.

   Fifty five pink-footed geese flew East over the decoy 23^rd September and on 28^th 276 passed over, also going Eastward.  On the same day a small party of eight pink-footed geese landed on the marsh but unfortunately these were disturbed by walkers. 

In mid October four Egyptian geese dropped in on the marsh to feed with the Canada geese, but they only stayed one day.   

Eygptian Geese   CAC

   In October, The Friends of Pickerings Pasture, together with the ranger Rob Smith, spent a day on the decoy completing work started in August: the steps to the Johnson hide were improved and repairs made to the roof, the cottage and hides were cleaned and the seating area was cleared of weeds and repainted.

A short-eared owl was found hunting Hale Marsh on the 21^st October and on the following day there were four present. They were easily seen around two hours before dusk; quartering the marsh looking for voles etc. One bird in particular gave excellent views in flight alongside the hedge by the main road. It was often seen perching on a fence post. On several occasions they were chased by crows and by a female sparrowhawk. One of the short eared owls stayed until early November. 

 Short-eared Owl   RPC 

   On the 29^th Oct a jack snipe joined seven common snipe on the marsh. A male tufted duck turned up on the 30^th October and spent at least two days on the pond busily feeding on the water snails. A stonechat was near the swing bridge on the 4^th November while eleven redwings were feeding on the hawthorn berries.        

Common Snipe   CAC