March - May.

Up to forty five wigeon and ninety teal were being seen on a regular basis on the marsh pools in early March, whilst the decoy also held up to 120 teals, a few shovelers and at least twelve pair of mallards. The Canada geese were flying in small numbers onto the moat and the decoy pond and a lot of fighting has been taking place: it looks as if they will attempt to breed on the decoy this year.

 In early March a pair of tufted ducks turned up again on the pond, later up to nine were recorded. Around this time a pair of mute swans arrived and by mid month had occupied one of the floating islands though unfortunately they seemed to be having a problem getting sufficient vegetation to make a nest. They later abandoned their attempt and left the decoy. They returned to the field pools and remained there for some time. Occasionally they disappeared on to the decoy pond although later in the month and for most of April they stayed on the decoy pool. The grey herons were very late starting to breed this year presumably because of the cold, late spring and only two nests were occupied by mid month, with one bird sitting tight on her eggs.

On the 21st March a drake Garganey was found on the marsh pools and stayed until the following day and so enabled quite a few people to see this rare summer visitor. On the same day two ruddy shelduck were present but the male was definitely a hybrid, probably the result of a previous mating between a ruddy shelduck and a common shelduck. On the same morning a sand martin spent some time feeding around the pool. Later in the week a wheatear was found on the fields and a jack snipe was flushed from the swing bridge area.

The following day four male ruffs were found and they stayed for several days but unfortunately a spotted redshank was present for one day only. Duck species recorded on the field pools were exceptional: nine different species were recorded, including eight gadwalls and eleven shovelers on one day. On the 28th a swallow, another summer migrant, was flying over the marsh but only stayed for an hour or so.

During the last week of March two pairs of little grebe were building nests on the decoy. Unfortunately one pair was having great difficulty: as quickly as they placed vegetation onto the nest, a pair of coot were stealing the material presumably to build their own nest. Again the very cold weather at the end of March slowed down the herons but by month's end five pairs were on nests with several birds sitting very tightly.

In early April up to 110 shelducks were displaying on the surrounding marsh and several parties were visiting the decoy pool. The resident pair was very aggressive to these other shelducks and was constantly chasing and fighting with them. Several white wagtails were recorded on the marsh but a male yellow wagtail, seen on the 7 th, was later joined by four more, three of which were females.

Shelduck displaying

The number of teals (44) remained stable until at least the 14th  April and a pair of shovelers was seen mating.  The gadwall pair were seen again, later to be joined by at least ten other gadwalls ~ all in pairs. Two little egrets were seen on the 14th  and by now the swallows were being seen on a regular basis. House martins seemed to be very late this year: the first two were seen hunting over the marsh on the 19th April, together with nine sand martins and several swallows. Up to six coots were present on the field pools and nest building was noted. Every year small numbers of waders passing over on migration drop onto the marsh pools to rest and feed. This year these included two little ringed plovers, four ringed plovers and ten dunlins on the same day. On other day's small numbers of black-tailed godwits, a green sandpiper and several individual snipe were spotted. The first Swift was seen over the marsh pools on the 30th April.

One of the little grebe pairs on the decoy pond was chased off and the victor's nest had eggs, with the female now sitting tight; later two young were seen with the adults. The coot was also sitting tight on her nest on one of the floating islands, and eventually produced five young. At least six grey herons were nesting by this time and one pair already had young: the others still sitting. A fox, which was seen on the 24th April, appeared to be a large cub though it seems very early for such a grown-up cub. It was relatively tame; giving more cause to think it was only a youngster: although when it saw me it was off like a shot... A Canada goose which finally built its nest on the moat bank and has been sitting tight for over three weeks should hatch her eggs any day now. A pair of chiffchaffs was holding territory on the decoy, with at least one pair of willow warblers and a pair of blackcaps likely to breed as well. By the swing bridge a male reed bunting was singing regularly and a pair of grey partridge were flushed from nearby.                                              

On the 1st May a male Brimstone butterfly was seen flying about the decoy wood.

Several of the grey herons' nests had young in early May; two of the nests contain large young, who were constantly clacking for food: others would hatch within the next few days. A total of seven nests have been occupied this year.

This year the little owls managed to rear four young. They have been finding a good supply of food for the young, which included several species of birds amongst the prey items. Several of the nest boxes have again been home to stock dove families: one of our prettier and less well-known dove species.

Another new species nesting on the decoy for the first time this year has been a buzzard, which built a nest high up in an oak tree and by mid April the female was sitting. Unfortunately, with the height of the nest and the fully developed leaves, it is very difficult to know what is happening: though by the alarm calls of the parents we assume they have large young.

The organised walks to Hale Duck Decoy from Pickerings Pasture, for any interested visitors, will start again in July. There is likely to be a lot of demand for these trips so the earlier the booking is made the better. Please contact the ranger Ann Faulkner at Pickerings Pasture on 0151-425-4706 or call in to see her to make a booking.

Herons at their nest