Image Credit: Ben Hall, RSPB Images
Half term has certainly been busy at RSPB Saltholme. We’ve had our share of excitable youngsters with coffee-clutching adults in tow, as well as plenty of wildlife sightings that mark the turn of the seasons. You really can say there is something for everyone on our reserve; read on to find out more!
News from the Estate:
The islands on our main lake are the ideal nesting habitat for terns and gulls.
If you looked out of the visitor centre windows on Tuesday and Thursday, you may have been surprised to see a large pack of wader-clad wardens and work party volunteers filling boats with cockle shell. Don’t panic, there is a reasonably logical explanation for this. With the black-headed gulls returning to Saltholme (see ‘Recent Sightings’ for more detail), the time has come to prepare our islands and tern rafts for gulls and terns. These birds like to nest on shingle, shells and rock. By scraping away last year’s cockle shell and laying down a new layer, we are providing them with ideal nesting conditions and reducing the risk of lingering parasites or illnesses. The layer of shell also helps to prevent excessive plant growth on the islands, which could affect the number of nesting spots available.
Where do the old shells go? Not to waste, that’s for sure. The team tip the old shells, with all the associated mud and gunk, into the lake itself (cockle-ia implants maybe?). This not only varies water depth (which encourages a greater diversity of feeding birds), but also provides a food source for underwater microorganisms which in turn keep our fish well-fed.
What’s On:
Image Credit: Phil Barnes, RSPB Images
Despite it feeling like it ought to still be the first of February, half-term is well and truly upon us. We have really enjoyed welcoming many families and holiday clubs to Saltholme this week. Here’s what they have been up to:
On selected days throughout the week, we have given you the opportunity to build and decorate your own nest box. Our visitor centre has been reverberating with the sound enthusiastic hammers (fortunately not accompanied by the screeches of hammers finding thumbs), only for silence to fall as budding artists make humble bird houses into bird homes. Everyone who has taken part in this activity has made wonderful spaces for nature; when they take their creations home, they can enjoy watching generations of birds grow up as a result of their hard work.
The ever-popular welly dogs and become even more popular since the start of this week. Since the gales last Friday, many have moved to different parts of our Discovery Zone (to prevent them turning into Welly Kites). So even if you have found them all before, you may want to come back and see how many you can spot this time around!
Thanks to our visitors, things may be looking up for the previously unlucky-in-love Harry Otter. With the beautiful cards made by the children completing his activity trail (shall we call them Otter Spotters?) and the help he has received in finding a suitable gift, he and Sally Otter are sure to get their happily-ever-after. Want to be part of this 'Tail' of Two Otters? Come along before the end of this week to get involved.
And that is not all! We have also welcomed Iron Guidance Limited. On Tuesday, we took the 28 children from Iron Guidance on a guided walk to the Saltholme Pools hide. We spotted 6 duck species (one girl said she saw 72, but most of these are unconfirmed sightings), three goose species, four wader species and lots of pond plants. Everyone had a fantastic time.
Recent Sightings:
Black-headed gulls only have the chocolate-brown head (after which they are named) during the breeding season. Image Credit: Edward Makin, RSPB Images.
Saltholme has been a reserve for gullible tourists this week. Well, tourists who like gulls anyway- the black-headed gulls are back on the main lake! It's great to have our noisy neighbours back, as this shows that the turn of the seasons is upon us- spring is most definitely on its way, and the breeding season for these gulls is just around the corner!
Image Credit: Mike Langman, RSPB Images.
But don’t think these returning birds are a red herring (gull) and that Spring is not really on its way…the Mediterranean gulls are also back! They have been seen on both the main lake and in front of the Paddy’s Pool hide. We're very pleased that these birds have returned, as this suggests they are becoming regular summer visitors to our reserve.
Ringed plovers feed on flies, spiders, marine worms, crustaceans and molluscs. Image Credit: Andy Hay, RSPB Images
We've also welcomed the first ringed plovers back to Saltholme Pools! A small bird with plenty of attitude, ringed plovers breed both on beaches and further inland. Saltholme is one such site; over the next few months, keep an eye out for the arrival of more of these beautiful little waders.
Image Credit: Tom Marshall, RSPB Images
As well as the skylarks that returned to the reserve recently, we now also have plenty of meadow pipits! Look out for the ‘parachute’ display flight and the white outer tail feathers. So even if the skylark would ‘pipit’ it to the post in terms of height of display flight, these birds are still quite the spectacle!
Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
And last but certainly not least, we now have THREE avocets at Saltholme Pools! With their upturned bills and striking black-and-white markings, these waders are unmistakeable. They are currently hiding right at the back of the pools so, if you fancy a challenge, why not come along and see if you can spot them?
As usual, this blog only covers a tiny proportion of the amazing sightings of the week. If you would like a more complete picture, watch this video (filmed by Ian Robinson) to discover what else has been found recently.
We hope to see you soon!
References and Additional Reading
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Avocet [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/avocet/ [last accessed 23/02/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Black-headed Gull [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/black-headed-gull/ [last accessed 23/02/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Meadow Pipit [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/meadow-pipit/ [last accessed 23/02/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Mediterranean Gull [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/mediterranean-gull/ [last accessed 23/02/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Ringed Plover [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/ringed-plover/ [last accessed 24/02/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Skylark [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/skylark/ [last accessed 23/02/2023].