On the 1st December the pond and moat were completely frozen over, after almost two weeks of severe frosts and several light snow falls. Fox, brown rat, rabbit and plenty of bird tracks were visible, even across the decoy pond itself. Most of the ducks were still using the River Mersey and over five hundred teals have been seen in the Ramsbrook.

Tracks on the snow-covered pond - RPC                                         

       The bird feeders are attracting, and keeping alive, a lot of small birds. Over thirty chaffinches were counted in early December, together with smaller numbers of greenfinches, all the usual tit species and several great-spotted woodpeckers. Pheasants, moorhens and stock doves were visiting the feeding station and have been seen picking up fallen bits of food.

       On the 7th December a water-rail was attempting to feed, walking around on the icy edge of the pond. On the same day, along the field edge to the decoy, a jack snipe was flushed from a boggy, unfrozen area and a few moments later nine grey partridge also flew. The pond was partially clear of ice and already thirty eight teals were back, whilst several mallards were flying around, above the decoy. On the 13th, a raven was on the marsh, while a little egret was seen feeding occasionally, as it appeared every now and again from one of the gutters. Two days later two little egrets were out feeding on the marsh.

On the 17th December the pond froze over again and later that day another snow fall covered the frozen ground, the pond and all the ditches. The whole area around the decoy and marsh was looking like Siberia and, with the severe weather continuing, it was impossible to go down for a while, to see what was happening on the decoy. Eventually, the occasional visit was made to fill up the bird feeders but it was essential to cancel the visiting parties, as the area was very unsafe, with the frozen and slippery conditions.

The wildlife soon started to suffer, with waders being most affected, because, during this period of low tides, the shore itself froze over, covering their muddy feeding areas.  Redshanks and dunlins in particular seemed to be affected: whilst the few curlews that remained spent most of their time sleeping, presumably trying to conserve their energy. It was noticeable that the mallards and teals were much tamer than in normal conditions. On one visit a little egret, flying up the Ramsbrook, was in difficulty, owing to a large ball of ice on one foot: the chances of this bird surviving seemed remote. The remains of a jack snipe were found: possibly a buzzard kill, as one had been seen hunting in the area shortly before our visit.

On the 26th, a female peregrine was perched on her usual log. A large flock of over fifteen hundred woodpigeons were trying to feed in the nearby rape field, but were continually frightened off by the gas-gun. In the same field, a large covey of twenty grey partridges were seen near to the pheasant feeding area. This patch was also being utilised by many reed buntings, finches and skylarks.

Although the thaw started on the 27th, with the snow cover quickly clearing, the pond was still frozen over on the 30th December. At the feeders, at least a dozen bramblings were with the chaffinches, which now numbered at least forty. All the usual species were around but the number of robins present was remarkable: although there was some fighting, up to four were on the bird table together, a most unusual sight. A little owl was seen for the first time for two months, also, from the marsh hide, a party of about fifty linnets were feeding on the weed seeds. Whilst dabbling in the Ramsbrook, a massive flock of over a thousand teal were flushed by a hunting peregrine.

The main pool was still three quarters frozen on 12th January but already a small party of teal were back loafing on the pool. The little owl was heard calling and a couple of grey herons were back near to their old nests.

A fascinating incident took place, when two peregrines were seen together on the marsh. One was an adult male and the other a juvenile, distinguishable by its brown plumage. They were sitting about sixty feet from one another, when, suddenly, an adult female flew over, about fifty to sixty feet up, carrying prey. When she was just above the other two peregrines she dropped the victim, which was probably a stock dove. It hit the ground but was obviously still alive, moving about on the salt marsh. The immature bird immediately flew across to the dove, actually landing on the bird and began to peck it around the head and back, before starting to feed. In the meantime, the adult female landed near to the male: neither of the adults made any effort to go towards the kill or to disturb the feeding immature. It appeared to me to have deliberately fetched food for the young bird, which would have been normal in late summer. Being January, this does seem hard to accept and perhaps the prey item was just dropped by mistake but the weather had been very severe... 

On the 19th January, a hundred and seventy six teals were present, as well as twenty two mallards and a drake shoveler. Two coots had reappeared and seemed to be holding a territory. On several days, around mid January, small parties of pink-footed geese were moving about and some flocks tried to land on the marsh but were scared off by the gas-gun, which was going off every half hour. It is used by the farmer to keep the woodpigeons off his rape field, alongside the marsh. One such flock numbered eighty birds.

We are still having problems with the outlet drain and consequently three of the paths are under water. This will have an effect on the trees, unless the problem is sorted out quickly. Considering the age of the Decoy, it isn't surprising that these problems occur but they are frustrating. Four members of the Friend's group worked hard, on two days, to put in a new, temporary, pipe, to help short-term but it will be an on-going problem, until it is fixed properly.