Wildlife at Hale Duck Decoy - Spring'o8

In early March 15 grey herons were roosting on the decoy together with five cormorants.

Herons & Cormorants    HBC Webcam

Four pairs of grey herons had already built nests and at least two were sitting on eggs. On the 17^thMarch five pairs had nests and another pair was showing interest in another tree.  By the end of March 6 grey herons were sitting on nests and the first young could be seen. 

During the first week of March, although the numbers of ducks had started to decline, eight male and four female shovelers were a pleasant surprise but teal numbers were down to 60 and only 35 mallard were present. Towards the end of the month there were 7 tufted ducks, 31 teal, 4 male mallard, also 2 coots had taken up territory on the decoy pond. Chiffchaffs were singing. 

A fox was seen walking along the edge of the Ramsbrook early in the month. During the second week of March the high tide was backed by strong gales and came well up around the decoy; flooding most of the marsh. Voles and wood mice were flooded out of the grass and fell prey to crows and gulls. Three stonechats and several reed buntings were noted in the hedge by the swing bridge. Five wheatears and a female peregrine falcon were seen on the marsh.

In mid March 250 Canada geese and over 30 shelduck were on the marsh with at least 60 lapwings and a few were starting to display and hold territory.  There were still 52 teal on the pond, 2 pairs of shoveler and two male tufted ducks accompanied a female. Only two female mallard were with the eight males, presumably the rest were sitting on eggs.

A pair of Lapwings on the Decoy Scrape   CAC

On the 2^nd April there was a Swallow over the marsh by the decoy. Several pairs of Canada geese were showing interest in the islands on the pond and a pair of coot was starting to build a nest: it was quite surprising to see the coots chasing off the geese from their island. On the 5^th 18 fieldfares were feeding in a nearby set-aside field. On the decoy shelduck were busy fighting amongst themselves and attempting to drive off other pairs, six tufted ducks were still present at this time.

On a high tide on the 9^th April 11 wigeon were on the marsh.  On the 13th April a little egret was seen on the marsh and later flew onto the decoy and landed by a grey heron's nest, much to the annoyance of the grey heron which was sitting on the nest. There was a greenshank on the marsh on same day and a buzzard flushed a jack snipe and attempted to catch it.  By mid April another male Stonechat had been seen and 5 wheatears, 9 white wagtails and two whimbrels were on the marsh. By this time both common frogs and toads had laid spawn.

Two little egrets were again feeding in the marsh pools and visiting the grey heron's nest on the decoy. In late April there were still 2 cormorants visiting the decoy. Are they going to attempt to breed?

By the month's end several parties of black-tailed godwits and four yellow wagtails were seen with a pair of gadwall on the marsh and the decoy. During the very strong cold Northerly winds a lot of migrants were held up. On the 28^th 9 wheatears, 3 yellow wagtails and 2 white wagtails were on the marsh pools. 

 Male gadwall   CAC

On 29^th April a Hobby was chasing swallows and martins over the marsh but with no success and a whinchat was seen in the hedge by the swing-bridge. On the 30^th April more migrants had appeared and a garden warbler, a chiffchaff and two willow warblers were singing whilst 8 swifts were seen circling over the pond.

  Black-tailed godwit changing into summer plumage   CAC 

On the 3^rd May a wood sandpiper, 52 black-tailed godwits and 2 greylag geese appeared with 3 yellow wagtails on the marsh pools. The next day a female marsh harrier was seen and the godwits had increased to 84 and were joined by a pair of gadwall. At least 3 grey herons' nests have young and a little egret was again on the decoy. The black-tailed godwits eventually reached the hundred-mark: many of them in full breeding plumage and the wood sandpiper stayed around until the 6th. 17 whimbrels were seen flying overhead on a north-easterly migration on the 5th.

Two greylag geese appeared on and off throughout the remainder of May whilst the gadwall pair showed great interest in a reedy part of the marsh and hopefully they will produce young in due course. A Temminck's stint and a different wood sandpiper appeared one evening on the marsh, the wood sandpiper stayed for a few days but unfortunately the Temminck's stint had departed by the following morning.

Wood Sandpiper   CAC

The first young grey heron had fledged on the decoy by May 18^th, with several others almost ready to leave their nests.  A pair of coot had hatched six young whilst another pair was sitting on eggs. Moorhens had reared at least two young. The great spotted woodpeckers had hatched about this time and will have fledged by the end of May. A pair of chiffchaff, at least one pair of blackcap and one pair of willow warblers are breeding. The two pairs of stock doves are rearing their second broods.

By the end of May yellow flag, wood forget-me-nots and red campion were flowering well and the first young rabbits of the year were seen.

These mute swans spend short periods feeding on Hale Marsh.   

CAC

Yellow wagtails are often seen feeding near cattle   CAC