Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
Hello and welcome to November. Yes, the 11th month is upon us and we’re starting to wonder how that happened. What we’re not wondering about is how we ended up being the best RSPB reserve in North East England- we can prove that with our conservation work, events programme and species sightings! Read on for more…
News from the Estate:
Reedbeds are an incredibly important habitat for many Saltholme species. Image Credit: Lydia Cave
Have you noticed our main entrance is looking more…open? That’s because the Estates Team have been cutting and collecting vegetation in the Visitor Centre moat. There are several reasons for this:
Quite simply, with less ‘stuff’ in the way, people can see further! This allows you- our wonderful visitors- to enjoy more views and wildlife sightings at Saltholme.
A variety of habitat types leads to a greater diversity of species. You may think ‘habitats’ means broad ‘types’ of landscape such as wetland, woodland, grassland and so forth. However, changes within one habitat type- such as reedbeds- can also have huge benefits for biodiversity. Some species love tall, dense reeds whereas other prefer open water or smaller, younger reeds. By cutting and removing some (but not all) of the reeds, we provide space for all these species.
In a reedbed, it’s no surprise that reed species can dominate. By cutting reeds back and providing areas of open water, we’re giving other plants the opportunity to thrive in the heavy clay soils along the sides of the bank.
It’s not just reedbeds that you can see at Saltholme. We also have a variety of grassland habitats. On Thursday, the team headed to Haverton Viewpoint to cut and collect vegetation in order to reduce the spread of bramble species and Michaelmas Daisy. By managing these species that can take over an area, we can encourage the growth of some very interesting calcareous plants (those that grow well in calcium-rich or chalky soils) that are only present because of this management work.
What’s On:
With the changing of the clocks, we have witnessed some spectacular Saltholme sunsets this week! Image Credit: Hayley Malcolm.
As mentioned previously, it is now November. That means the cold season is now upon us; the clocks have changed, the daylight is fleeting and the sunsets are spectacular. Fortunately for you, we have loads of events coming up that allow you to make the most of these awesome autumnal days. Here’s a brief overview:
This week has been October half-term and boy has it been a good one. The weather has been stunning, the wildlife has been wild and there have been lots of activities to enjoy. Of particular note has been the Saltholme Sorcerer Activity Trail. The inclusion of a ‘magic wand’ has proven a real hit with the billions (slight exaggeration) of children visiting us this week, encouraging them to complete the trail and therefore learn more about wildlife and the threats it faces on their way around the reserve. See? Even in the holidays, every day is a school day!
The trail will be available until Sunday 3 November, so come along to complete it soon!
Activity Trails not your thing? That’s fair. Good thing we have a wide range of other events coming up. One of our most popular are the Dusk Walks (Soup and Starlings). Not only do you get to witness spectacular Starling murmurations, but you get to do so whilst sipping soup and chatting to volunteers and staff about wildlife, conservation and reserve life in general.
We still have some tickets available on 24 and 28 November, so follow this link to book.
Our Artisan and Eco Fair is returning from 6 to 8 December! This event is the perfect way to support small, local businesses and the work of the RSPB at the same time. It’s also the perfect way to find a special gift for a special someone or to treat yourself! Remember entry to the fair and Visitor Centre is free (normal reserve entry fees apply) so whatever the weather, come along!
Brace yourselves…we’re about to say the ‘C’ word. Yes, put down your coffee and put your earplugs in…we’re starting to think about…Christmas.
Christmas, for all it seems to come round ridiculously quickly every year, is a wonderful holiday. There’s nothing quite like it and it’s right to celebrate. Part of Saltholme’s celebrations will be the arrival of another word we’re not usually allowed to say in November…the ‘S’ word. We’re sure you all know the word we’re referring to. Shall we say it together? 1,2,3…
…SANTA!
Yep, nailed it.
Anyway, if you want to visit Santa, he will be at Saltholme on the 7 and 8 December. It’s really easy to book tickets- just follow this link!
Recent Sightings:
Bearded Tits are also known as Bearded Reedlings. This is because it’s not a member of the ‘Tit’ family. Image Credit: Leslie Cater, RSPB Images.
First and foremost are the multiple sightings of Bearded Tits. Their ‘ping’ calls have alerted us to their presence in the reeds around our Main Lake and outside the Phil Stead hide (Saturday and Friday). We know these beautiful birds hang around (quite literally- see the picture above!) the Dorman’s Pool hide, but it’s very special to get such good views on our main site!
Fieldfare are most often seen as part of a large flock- they are very sociable and flocks can be several hundred strong! Image Credit: Ian Francis, RSPB Images.
Over the past few days, the first Fieldfare of the season have started to land in the berry-laden bushes near the Main Lake and Haverton Hill. The Fieldfare is a member of the Thrush family and its russet colours complement the autumn leaves around it. We will be seeing more and more of these birds as the month progresses, so keep your eyes peeled!
The Marsh Harrier is larger than other harrier species and does not have a white rump like many of the other harriers. Image Credit: Les Bunyan, RSPB Images.
Regular visitors to Saltholme will know that our Marsh Harriers are a reliable and magnificent presence on our reserve. In fact, they are so regularly seen that they are often not mentioned in this blog. So, in a week when they have been even more active than usual, it seems only fair to include them. These brilliant Birds of Prey have been seen all over our site- chasing Lapwing at Saltholme Pools, harassing Starlings from the Haverton Viewpoint and gliding gracefully over the reedbeds by the Wildlife Watchpoint hide. Hopefully they will continue to be a regular Saltholme fixture.
Well, much like October, that’s the end of the blog for this time. We’ll be back next week, but we hope you have enjoyed this iteration of the summary of Saltholme life and wildlife. It really is just a taster of what you can witness and experience as part of an in-person visit to our reserve. So, why not visit us soon?
References and Additional Reading
NatureSpot (2024). Michaelmas Daisy [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.naturespot.org.uk/node/124088 [last accessed 31/10/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Bearded Tit [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bearded-tit [last accessed 01/11/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Fieldfare [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/fieldfare [last accessed 01/11/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Lapwing [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/lapwing [last accessed 01/11/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Marsh Harrier [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/marsh-harrier [last accessed 01/11/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Starling [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/starling [last accessed 01/11/2024].