March- May

Herons have again nested at the Decoy. By the 6th March, six grey herons had built nests and at least two were sitting tight on their eggs. The first young were seen on 29th March. During early May the first two young grey herons fledged from their nest, whilst from at least four nests you could hear the clattering noise of the young, calling for food.

Birds of Prey have featured well this year around the area. A female marsh harrier, with a white head, was seen hunting the marsh on the 28th March. She was seen being mobbed, on one occasion, by several carrion crows. Another female marsh harrier, this time with a yellow head, was seen on the 18th April hunting over the field of rape alongside the marsh. A short eared owl was present for one evening on the 8th April and was seen again early the following morning, but didn't hang around as long as some have done. A wonderful surprise on the evening of 24th April was an osprey, flying across Carr Lane pools. It didn't stop: heading towards Clamley Woods and disappearing north.

Three species of falcon have been observed: a female merlin hunted the area on the 23rd and 30th March and a lovely male merlin was found sitting on a post out on the marsh on the 14th April. Sometimes peregrine falcons can be fairly regular in the Hale area. On the 14th April an adult male peregrine was hunting the marsh near to the decoy causing complete chaos with the regular feeding flock of woodpigeons. On the 8th May, the first of several hobby sightings was made, this time an adult bird circling around the decoy wood and out over the marsh. Hobbies have become more frequent in recent years although they do not hang around to breed.

At least five pairs of mallards were courtship chasing around the pond and out over the marsh, whilst on the marsh pools a further four pairs were courtship chasing. A female mallard appeared on the pond with nine newly hatched ducklings on the 11th April. Three Greylag geese were seen circling the marsh and the decoy but regrettably did not land. Up to four mute swans were also noted occasionally on the field pools; a pair each of gadwalls and shovelers was seen on quite a few occasions too. The decoy still held up to twenty five teals by early April. The tufted ducks on the decoy increased to twelve (seven males and five females) by the 11th May and we hope a pair will nest again this year. A broken, eaten egg, presumably the work of magpies, found on the path, late in the month, confirmed they had tried to breed. We must hope they will retry.

Two little grebes were present in April and we expected them to breed again this year but by mid-May, although they were still on the pond, they did not appear to have built a nest. The coots started breeding around 19th April, the female sitting on her nest, on a fallen tree. A pair of Canada geese bred on the bank of the moat this year, quite near the bridge: a good parent she just put her head right down, almost hidden from sight, whenever anyone crossed the bridge. A buzzard is again trying to breed in the same oak tree as last year, though it is being harried unmercifully by a pair of carrion crows, who are also trying to breed nearby.

After all the hard work, by several members of the Friends of Pickerings Pasture, the flood water on the decoy went down quite speedily towards the end of April. This was aided by the very dry weather. Not too much damage has resulted from the flood but some young trees have died and need replacing as soon as possible. Some other repair work will be undertaken at our next work-party, as well as some tidying up around the site.

During the exceptionally dry and pleasant weather, experienced in April, the butterflies did well on the Decoy and neighbouring areas, with several small tortoiseshells, peacocks, green-veined whites, orange tips and at least one brimstone flying around. Into May speckled woods became frequent.

The yellow flag iris is now flowering well and the red campion is just starting to flower. Both are about a week earlier than normal, presumably because of the good weather in April. The Decoy has a limited range of flowering plants but those that thrive often produce a real spectacle.

On the hedge running down towards the decoy bridge, two whinchats were recorded on the 18th. Grey partridge are fairly regular on this part of the marsh but are difficult to see as the crop grows, although two were flushed on the same day. Sedge warblers were also in the region, singing their variable trills and croaky song.  Two willow warblers were singing in the decoy wood together with at least two blackcaps, whitethroat and a chiffchaff. On another part of the marsh three large wheatears, of the Greenland race, were recorded in mid-May.

The field pools have not been as productive as in previous years but several highlights have been noted. A little ringed plover paid a quick visit on the14th April, though three summer-plumaged black-tailed godwits on the 17th stayed for a few days. On the 7th May a greenshank was present and remained until the 9th May; this was followed by three ringed plovers and up to eleven dunlins. Another black-tailed godwit was seen during the same week. Whimbrels also visited the pools briefly in April and May.

A pair of ruddy shelducks (unfortunately the male is a hybrid) which have been around the area for some time now, seem to have taken up residence on one particular pool. The male appears to be very aggressive chasing any other duck species away and, with the female disappearing on a fairly regular basis, it seems likely she is nesting nearby. At least two pairs of coots are trying to breed there, a new venture for this species. A grasshopper warbler has been "reeling" for some time in a rough patch and is probably breeding. Their song sounds like a fisherman reeling-in his line - hence the name of its call. Yellow wagtails are now a very rare bird on the marsh and field pools, only two sightings this year with two on 7th May and one on 10th.

By now several broods of young mallards are appearing on the pools and on the decoy: they have even been seen in the Ramsbrook: unfortunately the carrion crows and the gulls are pursuing them, and the predators are bound to reduce the numbers of young reared. One such incident was noted recently when a brood of small Canada geese were on the marsh, with their parents: a herring gull just swooped down and grabbed a gosling, swallowing it mid-air before the adults could react.

A pair of swallows has been showing an interest in one of the hides, flying in and out of the window slits: it looks like they are thinking about trying to nest in the hide again.

Hale Duck Decoy Open Day on Sunday 24th July

There will be three guided walks to the Decoy.

• Walks will be from 1000 - 1130: 1130 - 1330 (offering a picnic opportunity) and 1330 - 1500.
• As it is a sensitive and potentially dangerous site, all walks will meet at the Bridge on Hale Gate Road. Please park in Hale Village or Halebank and walk to the bridge, as there are no parking facilities on this busy stretch of road.
• A member of the Friend's group must accompany you across the marsh and on site, so please be on time.
• Children must be accompanied by adults.
• No dogs are allowed.
• We do not supply the picnic but feel free to bring your own!

You can contact us to book your place via the website.