Image Credit: British Broadcasting Company

And just like that, the Easter holidays are nearly over. Time flies when you’re having fun! You know what else flies? Our birds! We’ve had plenty of incredible sightings this week, so read on for more information…

News from the Estate:

Sea buckthorn. Image Credit: Sue Kennedy, RSPB Images

As always, the estates team have been hard at work keeping the reserve…

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

The Easter holidays are here! You know what that means…eggs-ellent events, cracking species sightings, taking up the yolk with our conservation work and much more. Fortunately for you, we are going to mention everything that has been happening this week right here in this blog. So read on for an insight into life at RSPB Saltholme…

News from the Estate:

Spring is definitely…

Image Credit: Leslie Cater, RSPB Images

That’s March done and dusted. Well, not quite- we still have plenty of Saltholme life to tell you about so buckle up and make the most of the last few hours of March 2023. Need more persuasion? Not a problem! Read on to discover which species has been the first to start nesting on the reserve this year. Read on to unearth our plans for the Easter holidays. Read on to get up to date…

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

Another week of amazing wildlife, fun-filled family activities and critical conservation work. We do seem to make a habit(at) of it don’t we? Yes, it’s been another wonderful week at Saltholme and we want to tell you all about it. So read on for more information!

News from the Estate:

The work party have cut paths through our reedbeds.

Did you notice that you could see…

Image Credit: Ethan Denton, eBird

It’s Friday again! This means two things…Firstly, it’s nearly the weekend. Secondly, you have another blog to make today pass that little bit faster. So read on to get a glimpse of life at a nature reserve!

News from the Estate:

Cattle are allowed into the Saltholme Pools area over the winter. Sometimes they like to check out our visitors!

The life of a warden is…

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

There’s always something isn’t there? This week, it was snow. But the primroses are still out and the birds are determined that it’s Spring, so we are too. Saltholme may have been a little crispier than usual, but it has looked stunning in the frost (and other forms of solid water) and there has been plenty of wildlife to admire. That is enough to make anyone happy, so read on for…

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

This week, we saw February off the premises and welcomed meteorological spring to the reserve. We have also greeted many visitors, welcomed back returning species and been gently rinsed a few times by the great British weather. You may think that sounds like a pretty standard week for a reserve in North East England but, if you read this blog regularly, you will know that there is…

Image Credit: Ben Hall, RSPB Images

Half term has certainly been busy at RSPB Saltholme. We’ve had our share of excitable youngsters with coffee-clutching adults in tow, as well as plenty of wildlife sightings that mark the turn of the seasons. You really can say there is something for everyone on our reserve; read on to find out more!

News from the Estate:

The islands on our main lake are the ideal nesting habitat…

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

It may only be mid-February, but there are the first stirrings of spring at Saltholme. Trees are beginning to bud, the first of the breeding birds are beginning to arrive and some of the braver members of the team are walking around in T-shirts (inside and for brief periods, but we’re getting there!). Read on to find out more!

News from the Estate:

The work party started preparing…

Image Credit: Jim Stephenson

RSPB Saltholme is a Ramsar wetland site of international importance nestled in the Tees Valley. Our status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Protection Area (SPA) stems from our wetland and wet grassland habitats, which are crucial for waders and wildfowl: in the winter months, migrant wading birds such as black-tailed godwit, ruff and green sandpiper rest in Saltholme…

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

It’s been another busy week at Saltholme. Honestly, it’s almost like we’re a large nature reserve and visitor attraction or something…

…You know the score- read on for more information on conservation work, events and recent sightings!

News from the Estate:

If you visited the reserve this week and listened very carefully, you may have heard the sound…

Image Credit: Norfolk Wildlife Trust (2023)

It’s the highlight of your week…it’s blog time again! We always seem to begin this blog by bemoaning the relentless march of time or commenting on the weather. So, we’re not going to mention the fact it’s February (already), chilly (again) and not raining (surprisingly). Well, not much anyway. Instead, let’s talk about all the amazing things that have been happening at Saltholme…

Saltholme moth report, 2022

2022 was a busy year for recording moths.  The light trap was out more than any other year, a total of 27 times and we also paid a little more attention to non-adults, spending a bit more time in the field searching for larvae, mines and pupae.  Such records have been a little neglected at Saltholme in the past, but can be important as they prove breeding which in some ways is of more significance…

Image Credit: John Bridges, RSPB Images

It’s 27 January, meaning we’re celebrating the 1-year anniversary of 27 January last year. Granted, a lot has happened in the past 364.25 days but we will focus on what has happened at RSPB Saltholme in the last 7 instead. There’s still a lot to cover, so buckle up and read on…

News from the Estate:

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

With the water on…

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

Congratulations, you are more than halfway through the longest month of the year. Here at Saltholme, we haven’t let the January blues get to us- how could we, when we have such a stunning reserve and such incredible wildlife to enjoy? Read on to learn more about what has been happening this week…

News from the Estate:

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

You’ll be pleased…

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

Another week, another blog! That’s right, there are more wonderful wildlife sightings to read about, more conservation work to explore and more events on the horizon. Read on to discover what has been happening at RSPB Saltholme this week…

News from the Estate:

If you read this blog regularly, you will have noticed by now that our Estates Team and Work Party are multi…

Image Credit: Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge

It’s the first blog post of 2023! It will not follow the ‘New Year, New Me’ trend; expect the same level of bad jokes, shameless self-promotion and incredible wildlife as before. Read on for more!

News from the Estate:

For the first work party of the year, the willow around the welly splash got a manicure. The cut branches are being used to maintain…

What a year! 2022 has- nationally and internationally- been a rollercoaster ride. On a more local level, the year has brought new ventures, new species and new challenges to Saltholme. Read on to find out more!

New Ventures:

Image Credit: Jim Stephenson

As an RSPB reserve, we are constantly looking for ways to improve our land for wildlife and its conservation. We’ve started several projects this year, and seen older…

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

It’s 23 December. Retail workers are quaking in their boots, fridges are stuffed to bursting and Santa is polishing Rudolph’s nose ready for The Big Night. But life doesn’t stop at Saltholme just because the tinsel is out- read on for conservation news, reserve events and sightings highlights!

News from the Estate:

Hedgerows and scrub are very important for wildlife…

Image Credit: Andy Hay, RSPB Images

What a week! It may have been the teensiest bit nippy, but the winter sunlight and shining frost have added a sprinkling of Christmas magic over the reserve. Oh, you forgot it was nearly Christmas? Don’t worry, leave the to-do list for now and read on to discover what has been happening at Saltholme this week.

News from the Estate:

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

The estates…

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

With glittering, frosty mornings and stunning sunsets, Saltholme has been showing us its best side this week. The staff and volunteers have been making sure visitors can get the most out of this beautiful place; there have been lots of events, sightings and conservation work going on. Read on to find out more.

News from the Estate:

The water soldier you see in ponds is most likely…

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

This blog aims to give you an overview of reserve life. Condensing a week’s worth of news and sightings into a manageable chunk of paragraphs can be tricky, but it’s a challenge we’re willing to accept. If you’re in even more of a hurry this week, here is a summary of the summary:

We’ve seen birds. We’ve conserved birds. We love birds.

If you would…

Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images

Congratulations. You have made it to Friday. You might not know how you got here but don’t worry, just join the club. As well as all the usual sections, to mark Remembrance Day we will start this blog with some facts about poppies. Read on to find out more!

The Flower of Remembrance- the Poppy:

Image Credit: Colin Wilkinson, RSPB Images

The poppy is a powerful symbol of remembrance…

Image Credit: RSPB Images

The old rhyme may tell us to remember ‘gunpower treason and plot’ today, but you should also remember our wildlife when you’re lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks! In fact, we see no reason why gunpower treason OR wildlife should ever be forgot(ten)!

There are some simple things you can do to make sure your Bonfire Night celebrations have a minimal effect on animals…

Image Credit: Les Bunyan, RSPB Images

We have reached October half-term. We might not be entirely sure how we got here so quickly, but the autumnal colours are incredible and Saltholme has been a hive of activity over the past week (in terms of both people and wildlife). So read on for more information!

News from the Estate:

Sand martins can be seen at Saltholme in Spring and Summer. Image Credit: Ben Hall, RSPB Ima…