Image Credit: Leslie Cater, RSPB Images
That’s March done and dusted. Well, not quite- we still have plenty of Saltholme life to tell you about so buckle up and make the most of the last few hours of March 2023. Need more persuasion? Not a problem! Read on to discover which species has been the first to start nesting on the reserve this year. Read on to unearth our plans for the Easter holidays. Read on to get up to date with the latest conservation work that future-proofs this incredible place. Convinced yet? Good. We’ll let you carry on then…
News from the Estate:
It has been a ‘tidying up’ sort of week at Saltholme. With birds beginning to settle down and think about nests, we have stopped cutting and pruning (for more information on the Dos and Don’ts around gardening during nesting season, visit this website). The work party have instead been getting the reserve looking spick-and-span for visiting visitors who want to make the most of these Spring sightings. Hides have been cleaned, mounds of cut vegetation have been moved, and areas around picnic benches have been weeded. Spring cleaning is definitely in full swing!
What’s On:
If you have missed the fact that the Easter holidays start tomorrow, lucky you. But they are starting, ready or not. Fortunately for you we are ready to deliver a fun-filled break for our visitors. There will be plenty of activities to choose from, with something for everyone. Here is a quick round-up:
That’s right, pond dipping is back for 2023! Our staff and volunteers have already tested out the pond dipping platforms (It’s a tough job to have, but somebody’s got to do it. So you’re welcome) and have found damselfly nymphs, mayfly nymphs, bloodworms and more. What will you find lurking beneath the pond surface? Well, to find out all you need to do is book a half-our session when you arrive at Saltholme (no need to book in advance). We provide all the equipment and will have Nature Activity Leaders on-hand to help you identify your finds. It will be really fun!
In addition to our pond dipping sessions, we will also be running birdwatching sessions from the Wildlife Watchpoint hide. We have birdwatching activities to suit all ages and will even provide the binoculars for this half-hour session. Our Wildlife Watchpoint hide allows you to get up close to a huge range of bird species. Our Nature Activity Leaders will help you spot these species and will answer any questions you may have (within reason). After the session, you can use your new-found skills to see what else you can discover as you continue your walk around our reserve. Sounds good? Just book in at the Welcome Desk when you arrive.
Have you been watching Wild Isles? Have you been in awe of all the awesome habitats the programme is exploring? If the answer is ‘no’ to either of those questions, we recommend giving the series a watch and coming along to Saltholme to complete our ‘Who Lives Here’ activity trail. If the answer to the questions was ‘yes’, then you’ll already be fired up to discover more about habitats through our ‘Who Lives Here’ activity trail! Available every day of the Easter holidays, pick up your trail sheet at the Welcome Desk.
Who doesn't love an Easter Egg hunt?! Especially when it takes place in our discovery zone. With the opportunity to take part in an interactive storytelling session followed by finding the hidden eggs, this should be fun for the whole family! And don't worry, all Easter Eggs are free-from chocolate AND if you find the smaller eggs there is another prize to be won...
Last but certainly not least, we are joining forces with Cleveland Bat Group to bring you the first of our Bat Walks. On 15 April, join us as the sun sets over Saltholme to marvel at the myriad of marvellous nocturnal wildlife that can be found on our reserve. Use bat detectors to…detect bats (how do they come up with these names?!) and ask the experts your burning bat questions (again, within reason). With out-of-hours reserve access and tonnes of natural knowledge on-hand, this event is well worth the money. Suitable for a range of ages, book tickets here [hyperlink].
Phew! Well, we don’t think we’ve missed anything. To make sure, you’ll just have to come and visit us over the next couple of weeks. We look forward to seeing you!
Recent Sightings:
We have a conundrum this week. Do species seen flying over the reserve count as being recent reserve sightings? According to our species surveys, the answer is a definitive ‘no’. According to our hearts…maybe. We decided the fairest thing to do was to tell you what has been seen in the sky and let you make your own mind up.
Ospreys are known for their incredible fishing technique- they dive into the water to catch the biggest fish they can! Image Credit: Chris Gomersall, RSPB Images
The first species seen flying through Saltholme was an osprey. These birds of prey are known to be partial to fish, so we can imagine Saltholme looked pretty tempting! Here’s hoping next time it visits it will hang around a little longer…
Red kites were reintroduced to the UK and are now doing very well; there are now over 4000 breeding pairs in the country! Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
The other flyover was performed by a red kite over the Philstead hide. An impressive bird that feeds mainly on carrion, the red kite has an important role in keeping the countryside clean. By removing carcasses, the red kite helps to prevent the spread of disease. We nearly lost this crucial service when the red kite (and other carrion feeders) were persecuted to the point of extinction. Fortunately, a series of reintroduction programmes have meant the UK population is now doing very well.
The wheatear displays ‘sexual dimorphism’, which is a posh way of saying the males look different to the females. The male is blue-grey above, with black wings and white below with an orange flush to the breast. Females are much browner. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
Right, shall we move onto the species that were seen on the ground at Saltholme? We’ll kick this section off with the wheatear. The first few individuals of the year have been seen hopping around the grassland areas by the ‘Sheep Shed’ and on the central meadow. Keep your eyes peeled!
Along with the firescrest the goldcrest is jointly the smallest bird species in the UK, proving that good things can indeed come in small packages. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
A goldcrest has been causing a stir on the reserve this week. The combination of its small size and beautiful markings make this a great ‘spot’ for birdwatchers. We’ve had some very happy visitors this week as a result of its presence!
Lapwing are ground-nesting birds that are currently experiencing dramatic population declines. They are one of the species that are a ‘conservation target species’ for Saltholme. Image Credit: Ian Francis, RSPB Images
We wanted to round things off with a real sign of Spring. This week we have had the first few reports of lapwings on nests/eggs! Our lapwing population had a successful year in 2022 after the installation of an anti-predator fence that protects their breeding area. We’re hoping that the trend continues this year, so please keep your fingers crossed!
Well, we’d better stop there and let you enjoy the rest of March 2023. April promises to be filled with more family fun, species sightings and general reserve busyness. We will keep you informed, but as usual we would love you to come and visit us soon!
References and Additional Reading
Immediate Media Company Limited (2023). How to garden for nesting birds [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/wildlife-gardening/how-to-garden-for-nesting-birds/ [last accessed 30/03/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Goldcrest [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/goldcrest/ [last accessed 30/03/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Hedge Cutting and Bird Nesting Season Laws [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/plants-for-wildlife/garden-hedges/hedge-law/ [last accessed 30/03/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Lapwing [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/lapwing/ [last accessed 30/03/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Osprey [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/osprey/ [last accessed 31/03/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Red Kite [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/red-kite/ [last accessed 31/03/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Wheatear [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/wheatear/ [last accessed 30/03/2023].
The Wildlife Trusts (2023). Red Kite [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/birds-prey/red-kite [last accessed 31/03/2023].