Image Credit: eBird
The sun has (mostly) shone on Saltholme this week, both literally and metaphorically. We’ve had plenty of wildlife preparing for the colder weather and soaking up the autumn sunshine. Read on to find out more…
News from the Estate:
The Wildlife Watchpoint hide is a family-friendly space from which you can watch our birds and other wildlife. The one-way mirror glass gives you excellent views of the wildlife, without scaring it. This is a wheelchair-accessible hide.
The Wildlife Watchpoint hide has been given some TLC this week. This hide is the haunt of water rail, little egrets, bittern and much more. What’s even better is you now stand a better chance of seeing them as the wonderful estates team have cleared the vegetation from around this building.
This is the perfect time of year to be cutting back the vegetation. Why? Well, October is after the various water birds have stopped breeding in the plants we’re cutting down, but before the weather gets so cold that the plants (and the wardens) get frozen into the pond. The perfect balance between conservation of wildlife versus conservation of staff and volunteers.
What’s On:
Autumn is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy nature (other perfect times include Spring, Summer and Winter); the colours are stunning, the light is stunning, and the wildlife is stunning. This weekend (15-16 October), we’re giving you the opportunity to get out and explore the wonderful world around you…
Image Credit: Mission Studios
Our latest Little Birders event begins at 10:30am on Sunday 16 October. Not only is this a brilliant way to run some energy off the kids, but also gives you and the younger members of your groups the opportunity to learn loads of awesome facts about the birdlife at Saltholme. Our experts will show you how to identify various bird species, and how to use binoculars to help you view these creatures in brilliant detail. You’ll get a guided walk of the reserve that is filled with fun, facts and fun facts. And what’s more, tickets include entry to the reserve (the ticket price is discounted for RSPB members), so you can enjoy the rest of our site for free once the Little Birders event is over! For more information and to book tickets, click on this link.
If Little Birders isn’t quite your cup of tea (or coffee, we don’t judge), don’t panic! This weekend is also our latest Binoculars and Telescopes Open Weekend. Come along to try out a wide range of binoculars and get expert advice and guidance on finding the right set for you. It’s not just birdwatchers that can benefit from binoculars- anyone who wants to see something far away as something a little bit closer should come along this weekend!
Recent Sightings:
The big drama this week has been caused by the collared pratincole that flew into back Saltholme on Thursday afternoon. It may sound like it’s related to the profiterole, but we can assure you that this is a very different beast; profiteroles remain resident in bakeries, only leaving briefly to enter cafes and homes before being eaten. The pratincole, on the other hand, breeds in southern Europe, north and central Africa and central Asia. It winters even further south. The collared pratincole only stayed at Saltholme for about half an hour, but those brief 30 minutes equated to another first record of a species for our reserve. This is also the first record of this species for the whole of Cleveland!
Disappointed you missed the lesser yellowlegs last week? Don’t worry, it’s still hanging around! And what’s even better is that it’s decided it’s going to court the cameras right in front of the Philstead hide! Another very good reason to visit Saltholme this weekend.
The stonechat’s name comes from its call, which sounds like two rocks being knocked together. Image Credit: Leslie Cater, RSPB Images
Moving on from one-off sightings to regular winter visitors, the stonechats are back! These colourful little birds spend a lot of their time gracing our central meadow with their presence over the colder months. Keep your eyes peeled for them perching at the top of tall grass stems, and in the bushes that line the paths around the meadow.
Pink-footed geese fly from Spitsbergen, Iceland and Greenland to spend the winter in the UK. Image Credit: Andy Hay, RSPB Images
We’ve also been treated to the wonderful sight of skeins of pink-footed geese flying over the reserve. With the autumn sun shining on their rosy toes, it’s easy to see how this species got its name. Other defining features include its pink bill, pinkish-grey colouring and a darker head and neck.
The white-fronted goose winters in the UK but is at risk due to drainage of wetlands. Image Credit: Andy Hay, RSPB Images
Speaking of geese, we've also had a white-fronted goose on the reserve this week. These birds breed in either Greenland or Siberia; the Greenland birds have orange bills, whereas the individuals from Siberia have orange bills.
The male sparrowhawk is smaller than the female, with a black back and orange bars across the chest. Females are larger, with paler barring and brown backs. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
The last species we will mention this week is the sparrowhawk. We can get a bit blasé about these Birds of Prey, as they are resident on-site. However, this species is pretty incredible; did you know the sparrowhawk is an ambush predator, sneaking up on birds as large as pigeons? This is exactly what our sparrowhawks have been doing this week, but with mixed success. Birdwatchers were treated to some amazing hunting attempts at the Visitor Centre bird feeders!
So there you have it. Whether you want expert advice, activities, relaxation, drama, rarely-seen species or all of the above Saltholme is the place to be! Remember to visit our reserve soon and see what you can discover.
References and Additional Reading
British Trust for Ornithology (2022). Collared Pratincole [webpage]. Accessed through https://app.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob4650.htm [last accessed 13/10/2022].
British Trust for Ornithology (2022). Lesser Yellowlegs [webpage]. Accessed through https://app.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob5510.htm [last accessed 13/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Bittern [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/bittern/ [last accessed 13/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Little Egret [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/little-egret/ [last accessed 13/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Pink-footed Goose [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/pink-footed-goose/ [last accessed 13/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Sparrowhawk [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/sparrowhawk/ [last accessed 13/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Stonechat [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/stonechat/ [last accessed 13/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Water Rail [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/water-rail/ [last accessed 13/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). White-fronted Goose [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/white-fronted-goose/ [last accessed 14/10/2022].
The Wildlife Trusts (2022). Sparrowhawk [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/birds-prey/sparrowhawk [last accessed 13/10/2022].