Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images.
And with that, Friday is here again. But we don’t mind because that means it’s (a) nearly the weekend and (b) blog post day! So, read on to unearth everything that has happened at Saltholme this week.
News from the Estate:
Foxes are one of the top predators at Saltholme. They have a very important role to play in controlling the populations of a variety of species. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images.
The Estates Team have had a fence-related week. Firstly, Tuesday was spent strimming vegetation along the anti-predator fence. Long grasses and other plants can reduce the voltage going through the fence, leading to reduced efficiency (and you all know how we like to conduct ourselves properly around here) and therefore a greater risk of foxes scaling the fence to get to all the tasty eggs and chicks on the other side (remember, the foxes are allowed to roam freely on one half of the reserve- it’s just the wet grassland that is kept fox-free by this fence). Strimming the vegetation therefore is contributing to the conservation of ground-nesting birds at Saltholme.
Thursday brought the task of removing a post-and-rail fence along the side of our Discovery Zone (would this be a de-fence off-fenceive?), opening up this area and allowing the footpath to live alongside (quite literally) our lovely reedbeds and wildflower banks. As this is the path that school groups use, the hope is that removing this fence will encourage the children to engage with the world around them, learning to appreciate nature and wildlife through direct experience.
What’s On:
Dragonflies' wings remain perpendicular to their bodies whilst at rest; damselflies can fold their wings when resting. Image Credit: Tim Hughes, RSPB Images.
Today brings the first of our Dragonfly Walks to Saltholme! Dragonflies are incredible aerial predators, having a 90% hunting success rate. They often go unappreciated or, if you are looking for them, they often disappear in a flash of colour. This walk will give you the opportunity to spend some time discovering dragonflies for yourself and appreciating them in their full array of spectacular colours and daring acrobatics. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to enjoy our lovely reserve; what’s not to like? Don’t worry if you missed out on tickets this time- due to popular demand, the event is back on 2 August! Book your tickets here.
Recent Sightings:
You know a nature reserve is awesome when sightings of Bittern, Cuckoo and Sandwich Tern are old news. The Bittern in particular has been sighted every day for nearly a month! However, as well as being an incredible sighting in its own right, this shows how quickly we can become blasé about the UK’s wonderful wildlife. Just think of all the ‘common’ species that are under-appreciated (we are as guilty of this as anyone else), simply because they are seen more frequently than others. But that can change quickly- think of the dramatic declines in Greenfinch numbers due to Trichomonosis. Never let rarity become the yardstick for appreciation!
Ok, lecture over. We’ll tell you about what other species have been seen this week…
Spoonbills get yellow markings on their bills and necks when they are in breeding plumage. Image Credit: RSPB
As well as Cuckoo, Bittern and Sandwich Tern, we have had regular sightings of a Spoonbill from the Saltholme Pools hide. This individual will have been making the most of the plentiful feeding opportunities in the shallow water of our pools and wetlands.
Image Credit: Paul Sawer, RSPB Images.
There has also been a Mediterranean Gull lurking amongst a variety of other gull species (you could even say a Gull Group) at Saltholme Pools. Look for its black head (not brown, like the Black-headed Gull- a bit of a misnomer) and red, slightly drooping beak. Not many other gulls have this combination, making the Mediterranean Gull relatively ‘easy’ to spot.
We’re going to round off this week’s blog by mentioning a flower species that has brought a splash of colour to our reserve- the Pyramidal Orchid. The deep purple petals of this flower can be seen on our central meadow and on the Wildflower Walk (leading up to the Haverton Viewpoint). So as well as looking upwards for our brilliant birds, remember to take a moment to look downwards for our fabulous flowers!
We hope to see you at RSPB Saltholme soon!
References and Additional Reading
British Trust for Ornithology (2024). Trichomonosis [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/gbw/gardens-wildlife/garden-birds/disease/trichomonosis [last accessed 05/07/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Cuckoo [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/cuckoo [last accessed 05/07/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Bittern [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bittern [last accessed 05/07/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Black-headed Gull [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/black-headed-gull [last accessed 05/07/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Greenfinch [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/greenfinch [last accessed 05/07/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Mediterranean Gull [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/mediterranean-gull [last accessed 05/07/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Sandwich Tern [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/sandwich-tern [last accessed 05/07/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Spoonbill [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/spoonbill [last accessed 05/07/2024].
The Wildlife Trusts (2024). Pyramidal Orchid [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/pyramidal-orchid [last accessed 05/07/2024].