From late March through until the end of April a group of little egrets fed on the marsh and field pools. These birds also visited the decoy on many occasions, especially to roost at night. There were generally four but reached a maximum of seven birds, on occasions.    

The number of grey herons built up and seventeen birds were counted on one occasion. Eventually, seven nests were built on the Decoy, with young fledging from at least six nests. One nest failed, by partially collapsing in the strong winds, although, it is possible that this pair re-laid in another used nest. It is difficult to tell now, with the leaves on the trees. The first young were seen on the 7th April, when a small head could be seen on the web-cam picture. It was interesting to watch the young from this nest grow, over the following days.

During March and early April the female peregrine continued to use a log, out on the marsh, as a vantage point. She made many sorties from her post, after prey species.  On the 20th March two short-eared owls were seen, hunting the marsh around the decoy, and, on the same day, a little ringed plover turned up on the field pools. On the 28th two greylag geese were seen in the midst of the Canada goose flock and the first swallow of the spring was noted, feeding over the field pools.

The numbers of duck dropped off as spring progressed, although more tufted ducks and many shelducks visited the pools and their fighting and displaying was exciting to watch. A pair of gadwall was present, for a while, and a drake shoveler paid a visit in April.

Throughout April wheatears were recorded in small numbers but towards the end of the month several of the larger Greenland race of wheatears were recorded. Good numbers of white wagtails were also seen, on their way to their Icelandic breeding areas. The yellow wagtails (seen in smaller numbers) would probably be on passage to breed, more locally, in the UK.

On the 21st April a female marsh harrier was seen flying northeast and on the same day a grasshopper warbler was singing in the phragmities, near the swing bridge.  By mid April chiffchaff, willow warbler, and blackcap were all singing in the decoy wood.  A pair of jays, frequently recorded in April and May, almost certainly bred in the woodland.  The little owls successfully reared five young. Of special interest was the food items brought to the nest box, which included a dunlin, a sand martin and a blackbird, in addition to wood mice and shrews.

A pair of ruddy shelducks spent the latter part of April and early May on the field pools. Unfortunately the male had a black head, indicating it was a hybrid, possibly crossed with a common shelduck. Even so, they were an enjoyable sight, seen swimming around on the pools. The male, in particular, spent a lot of time fighting and displaying with the other shelducks.

On the decoy pool itself, both coot and little grebe are breeding and by now their young should be out on the pond, joining the several broods of mallard which are present. A drake teal has been recorded, on several dates, and possibly has a female sitting on eggs.

On the 27th May a hobby was seen chasing swifts around and over the decoy wood and a first-summer little gull was hawking for insects, on the field pools. During one warm spell of weather, several pipistrelle bats and two noctules were recorded flying about the woodland. A male brimstone butterfly was found on the 28th, together with the first large skipper. Several painted lady butterflies, seen on the same day, were part of a large invasion of these butterflies, seen all over the country. Look out for more over the coming months.

Visits to the Decoy can now be arranged with the ranger.

Please phone 0151-425-4706.

Large skipper