September ~ November

Canada goose numbers reached 1250, feeding on Hale Marsh, but soon diminished to just a couple of hundred. The decrease was possibly due to shooting, which took place on the marsh, in early September. On the 17th September, an early party of 24 pink footed geese were seen, flying east, over the decoy wood.

A Kingfisher was recorded, on several occasions, and it was noted this was a different one from the kingfisher at Pickering's Pasture. The number of teals using the decoy pond increased to over 190, by end of September. They were joined for a few days by a drake pochard and four shovelers. Up to twenty one mallard were feeding on the fallen acorns. Also present, roosting on a log, was a green sandpiper.

 Pochard

Whilst a chiffchaff was recorded singing in the woodland, a pair of stonechats were seen on the hedge, by the decoy bridge, on the 13th October. The 20th October was a very windy day and about eighty goldfinches were feeding on thistle heads, by the decoy bridge. Now there were two green sandpipers roosting on the log and sixteen grey herons were sheltering on the decoy pond. Also, on the pond, there were three shovelers, 130 teals and seventeen mallards.

By the 4th November there was a further increase in teal numbers, to 230. The three shovelers were still present, with nine mallards. Ten grey herons were in attendance, around the pond, probably sheltering from the bad weather. A grey wagtail was recorded, on the pond, during this period.

Shoveler

Although the weather conditions were appalling in November, two work parties, of about fifteen people on each occasion, from the Environment Agency, did some sterling work, removing a lot of brambles, which were growing over the ditches and smothering some of the young, newly planted trees.

On the 5th November, the ranger saw eight whooper swans flying over the Marsh; apparently they were a party of three adults and five young ones, which were probably newly arrived from Iceland.

At least two buzzards are using the decoy to hunt, even though there are few rabbits left, after a bout of myxomatosis. They are taking birds and a patch of feathers indicated one of the victims was a moorhen and a jay was another. We also found the remains of a woodpigeon, though it is possible that the pigeon had been shot, on nearby farmland, before the buzzard found it.

On the 6th November, a party of 180 pink-footed geese circled the decoy marsh, for several minutes, obviously wanting to land. Unfortunately they were probably scared off by a tractor working in a nearby field.

On the 7th November, a massive increase of teal was recorded, with over 493 being present on the pond. They were together, with sixteen mallards and a female shoveler, whilst a little grebe put in an appearance too. A pair of bullfinches was seen in the woodland area on the same day.

  Male bullfinch

The bird feeders are now starting to attract many small birds, including greenfinches and chaffinches, in addition to the usual bands of blue and great tits, also a couple of great spotted woodpeckers. Consequently, a male sparrowhawk is about, taking advantage of the additional source of food.

Male Sparrowhawk

On the recent high tides, which flooded the marsh, a very large count of 1500 lapwings were feeding on the marsh, together with 400 golden plovers and 250 dunlins. On one day over 200 black-tailed godwits were also present. On the recently flooded areas, quite a few common snipe have been present; also one jack snipe has been recorded. Of course this number of birds attracted a male peregrine, which has been present on several occasions; good views of this bird can be obtained from the hides.

On the 13th November, excellent views were obtained, from the marsh hide, of a female peregrine being mobbed by a male merlin. It made three or four attacks, almost hitting the peregrine. At the same time, a kestrel was circling the scene, making a lot of noise but keeping its distance! 

In mid November, small parties of redwing and fieldfare were recorded, busily feeding on the hawthorn berries and a fox was seen running along the edge of the moat bank. Duck numbers continued to be high towards the end of November, with several counts of over 250 teals and nine shovelers were seen, on one occasion. The two green sandpipers have again been roosting on the rafts and on a dead tree.

On a recent high tide, up to eleven cormorants were roosting on the river edge of the marsh, with up to 80 wigeons feeding on the short grass. Towards the end of November, after a period of bad weather, a couple of parties of pink-footed geese were seen circling the marsh and one small party landed. Around this period the stock dove numbers increased, with a party of 110 feeding on the marsh.