At Saltholme we have representing the commonwealth home nation of Scotland – the thistle. As this week a big sporting event begins in Glasgow the reserve has had plenty of sunshine bringing out a range of dragonflies, butterflies and bees. The latter two mentioned spend their time flying around the thistles to collect nectar. Some species of animals are deterred from coming near the prickles around the flower, so specialist feeders like this small tortoiseshell that I photographed a couple of years ago, at the same place I seen the bees feeding on the thistles today. The plant is wide spread across the reserve but can be seen right next to the path on the dragonfly path heading towards the Saltholme Pools hide.
Vegetation across the reserve is growing rapidly, with all of the extra vegetation and the water continuing to drop there is nowhere for the wader birds to feed along the edges of the reeds, now the waders are searching for food within the growingly dense vegetation. The estate team have an ongoing challenge of keeping grasses and reeds low in the channels that are maintained throughout the year. This is my before and after picture that I took from in front of the Phil Stead hide.
- Josh McGowan