Image Credit: John Bridges, RSPB Images
The weather, like mediocre cake batter, has been slightly mixed this week. With storms, sunshine and everything in between, you could be forgiven for thinking that it’s autumn in the UK. But with autumn comes lots of interesting wildlife sightings, eventful events and conservation work to tell you about. So read on for more!
News from the Estate:
Michaelmas Daisies are a garden escapee- they spread throughout the UK and can now be found in most areas. Image Credit: Chris Gomersall, RSPB Images.
The Work Party walked up to Haverton to have a tonne of fun pulling brambles and Michaelmas Daisies from around the seating area. If this wasn’t done, there would be some gorgeous lime-loving native plants that would be lost. This is because both brambles and the invasive Michaelmas Daisy grow very tall, very quickly and can shade out the more delicate wildflowers. Why do we care about these dainty species? Well, not only do more plant species mean a greater vegetation diversity but it also leads to a wider variety of insects (and therefore birds) present on-site.
And that’s not all!
On Thursday, the Estates Team donned waders and leapt joyfully into the Dragonfly Pools to remove emergent vegetation which was beginning to grow in the open water sections. This creates a variety of different conditions within the ponds, which once again encourages a greater variety of species to use these. Not bad for a week’s work!
What’s On:
Not taken at Saltholme, but you get the idea. Image Credit: RSPB Images.
As we come to the end of the second week in November (?!) we are also coming to the end of the second week of Soup and Starlings. This event, running 3-5pm on Thursdays and Sundays throughout November, gives you the opportunity to experience Saltholme after all other visitors have left. So, get ready for some alliteration…
As the sun sets over Saltholme, slurp soup and survey spectacular Starlings as they swirl and swoop into their sleeping spots. Sometimes, Short-eared Owls AND Starlings star in the show simultaneously, surprisingly standing up the Spoonbill soaring along the skyline towards Saltholme Pools.
We actually also saw Marsh Harrier, Barn Owls, Golden Plover, Lapwing and Peregrine Falcon at Soup and Starlings this week. But, as none of these species begin with ‘S’, we had to start a separate paragraph. Anyway, the point is if you would like to join us on one of these walks, we still have some spaces left! Click here to book tickets.
It is now just over a week until the start of our Christmas Artisan and Eco Fair! Nineteen local businesses will be on-hand to provide you with plenty of inspiration for your Christmas shopping. What makes it even better is that this will be GUILT-FREE SHOPPING; not only are you supporting the local economy, you will also be buying artisan and eco-friendly products AND supporting conservation work at Saltholme. Oh, and it’s free entry to the Visitor Centre (reserve entry fees apply) so you can always enjoy a cuppa in our café whilst admiring all your shopping. What’s not to love?
Recent Sightings:
In addition to all the species we mentioned in the ‘What’s On’ section, there have been plenty of sightings at Saltholme this week. When you visit/work at Saltholme, it’s easy to forget that some of the species you see may not be common elsewhere. So, we thought we’d mention a few of the ‘regular’ species and tell you a bit about why they are still incredible…
The Stonechat is named after its call, which sounds like two stones being hit together. Image Credit: Leslie Cater, RSPB Images.
First up is the Stonechat. Although only about the size of a Robin, that still leaves plenty of room for some incredibly striking markings! In the winter, they can be seen on meadows around Saltholme, searching for small insects and berries.
Little Egrets are now common in Britain, but the first UK breeding record for this bird was as recently as 1996! Image Credit: Matt Wilkinson, RSPB Images.
Secondly, the Little Egret is often dismissed as a ‘guaranteed’ bird at Saltholme. But its story is far from straightforward. For example, did you know that the incredible breeding ‘plumes’ on the head and neck of this bird were once more valuable than gold? Throughout the 19th century, this bird was hunted extensively for these feathers; laws brought in to protect them helped to boost their population. So next time you see a Little Egret, don’t take it for granted!
Siskins do breed in the UK, but in winter their numbers are boosted by migrants from Europe. Image Credit: Les Bunyan, RSPB Images.
Siskins are often confused with Greenfinches, but both are awesome in their own right. We’re always so happy to see Greenfinches on the feeders here at Saltholme, especially after their population crashed due to a disease called Trichomonosis. So even if they are just ‘garden birds’, they’re still another incredible species! Siskins are certainly striking, with their bright yellow feathers and bold markings, so their looks alone make them stand out. But did you know this tiny bird migrates from northern Europe to spend the winter in the UK? Incredible isn’t it?!
Goldcrests are the UK’s smallest bird (along with the Firecrest)- they weigh just 6 grams! Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images.
Last but certainly not least is the Goldcrest. These hot-headed individuals have been seen in our car park this week, probably feeding on minute spiders and insect eggs. It doesn’t let its stature hold it back- did you know the female lays up to 12 eggs in a clutch, which is equivalent to about one and a half times her own bodyweight? And the scientific name of this bird is Regulus regulus, which refers to its golden ‘crown’. This is why the Goldcrest is known as ‘King of the Birds’ in European folklore!
Well, that’s all we have time for today. But as always, we have barely scratched the surface. You can watch this video- filmed by Ian Robinson- to get more of an idea of what has been seen at Saltholme recently. But of course, nothing quite beats coming and seeing the reserve for yourself…we hope to see you soon!
References and Additional Reading
NatureSpot (2023). Michaelmas Daisy [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.naturespot.org.uk/node/124088 [last accessed 16/11/2023]
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Barn Owl [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/barn-owl [last accessed 17/11/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Goldcrest [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/goldcrest [last accessed 17/11/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Golden Plover [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/golden-plover [last accessed 17/11/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Greenfinch [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/greenfinch [last accessed 17/11/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Lapwing [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/lapwing [last accessed 17/11/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Little Egret [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/little-egret [last accessed 17/11/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Marsh Harrier [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/marsh-harrier [last accessed 17/11/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Peregrine Falcon [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/peregrine-falcon [last accessed 17/11/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Short-eared Owl [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/short-eared-owl [last accessed 17/11/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Siskin [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/siskin [last accessed 17/11/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Spoonbill [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/spoonbill [last accessed 17/11/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Starling [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/starling [last accessed 17/11/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Stonechat [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/stonechat [last accessed 17/11/2023].
The Wildlife Trusts (2023). Goldcrest [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/tits-crests-and-warblers/goldcrest [last accessed 17/11/2023].
The Wildlife Trusts (2023). Little Egret [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/herons-egrets-spoonbill-and-crane/little-egret [last accessed 17/11/2023].
The Wildlife Trusts (2023). Stonechat [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/thrushes-chats-flycatchers-starling-dipper-and-wren/stonechat [last accessed 17/11/2023].