WILD LIFE ON HALE DUCK DECOY LNR

Probably the most exciting time for birds on the Duck Decoy is autumn through to winter, when large numbers of teal arrive from the continent. In the past, counts of five hundred or more teal have been regular at this time. Good numbers of mallard will be present, with a scattering of other ducks, which include wigeon, pintail, a few tufted ducks and pochard, which appear to be increasing visitors, though in small numbers.

At this time the flocks of Canada geese also reach their maximum numbers. In the past year (2006) a flock of nearly 2000 have been present, feeding on the marsh. This number of geese is starting to encourage pink-footed geese to land and feed on the salt marsh.

This is the time we normally get the highest tides, which can flood the marsh and push parties of waders close to the marsh hides; these include redshank and up to 2,500 lapwings, though this is a lot less than ten years ago. Dunlin numbers are on the increase.  In cold winters large numbers of golden plover can be present but they are quite fickle and cannot be relied upon.

Peregrine falcons have been increasing in number and one can usually be seen either harrying the waders or roosting on the marsh. Kestrels and sparrowhawks are seen almost daily, and merlins are usually present in autumn and again in early spring, presumably on passage from and to their breeding grounds. There are more sightings of marsh harriers, which are usually seen in August / September or April / May.

On the Decoy pond, moorhens are regular, with the occasional little grebe and coot being recorded. Grey herons use the logs in the pool to roost and up to fifteen have been recorded.  Another species, which has increased, possibly with the mild winters, is the kingfisher, which is now being seen regularly throughout the year, except in the breeding season. During the late summer / early autumn, green sandpipers use the decoy to roost during the day and make a lovely sight in front of the bird hide.

Of the smaller birds; chaffinch, greenfinch, the occasional bullfinch and brambling are seen by the bird feeders, together with great and blue tits and up to three great spotted woodpeckers.  With all the small birds about sparrowhawks are regularly seen attacking the birds at the feeders. Other species, which are recorded almost daily, are stock doves and woodpigeons, both of which breed on the decoy.

Little owl is fairly regular, though it is heard more often than it's seen.  Tawny owls have become a very infrequent visitor, although they did breed in the past. The odd record of short-eared owl and barn owl hunting the marsh is made most years.

During the spring months the decoy is visited by many migrant warblers, several of which breed on the site; these include chiffchaff, willow warbler, blackcap, lesser whitethroat (which has bred) garden warbler, sedge warbler and reed warbler. Redstarts have been recorded on several occasions.  In the reedy ditches nearby, reed buntings breed, with skylarks and meadow pipits breeding on the nearby marsh. Lapwings and redshanks both breed on the marsh, although the nests of these species often fail, when high tides, in the breeding season, wash them away.

Oak and elm are the main tree species, although many of the original trees died when the decoy was flooded. They had to be replaced, whilst alder and wild cherry have been added. The ubiquitous sycamore is another common species.  A good under storey of guelder rose, alder buckthorn, hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel and dog rose has been planted.

In spring the woodland can be covered with red campion and foxgloves, with yellow flag growing in the ditches. During the late summer and early autumn, over twenty species of fungi have been recorded but more research needs to be done.

Common frog and toad have both bred on the decoy, whilst the occasional smooth newt has been recorded.

During the summer months dragonflies and damselflies can be seen hawking the pond and ditches. Azure and blue-tailed damselflies, brown and southern hawkers are the commonest, though large red damselfly and common darters are regular. Visits have been made by emperor dragonflies, four spot chasers and the odd banded demoiselles have been seen on the moat.

Butterflies can be numerous in mid summer, although the brimstone (now breeding on the decoy, since alder buckthorn was planted) is usually seen in early April, together with the commoner small tortoiseshell, peacock, red admiral and orange tip. The green-veined whites have a strong colony, while two relative newcomers, speckled wood and the gatekeeper, are both doing extremely well. The meadow brown appears to be holding on but small coppers are now quite rare. Our rarest butterfly is the purple hairstreak and small numbers are seen most years.

On warm evenings, just before dusk, one can see our two species of bats flying. Up to ten pipistrelles can be seen hawking low over the pond, whereas the noctules fly quite high over the pool and woodland.  

Most of our mammal species are quite hard to see, except for foxes and rabbits. With a view to finding out what is actually on the decoy, there have been several live mammal trapping sessions and we have recorded bank and short tailed voles, wood mouse, common and pygmy shrews and brown rats. Over the years both weasel and stoat have been recorded but neither can be called common.