Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
This week, we saw February off the premises and welcomed meteorological spring to the reserve. We have also greeted many visitors, welcomed back returning species and been gently rinsed a few times by the great British weather. You may think that sounds like a pretty standard week for a reserve in North East England but, if you read this blog regularly, you will know that there is never a standard week at Saltholme. So read on for more!
News from the Estate:
Image Credit: Ben Hall, RSPB Images
As always, the estates team have been keeping themselves busy and out of mischief. With such a large reserve to manage, there is always a myriad of tasks to complete. This week’s offerings were:
With the black-headed gulls returning to our Main Lake Islands ahead of the breeding season, the team has been hard at work creating the best-possible nesting environment for these and other summer visitors (no, not visitors visitors…we’re talking about birds). Removing old cockle shell and putting down a fresh layer discourages the growth of vegetation and reduces the parasite load in these areas. This means terns and gulls, who prefer nesting on bare ground, get the ideal nesting spot.
With upgrade works in our playground ongoing (good progress is being made, and the updates are looking great!), our work party have spent some time making sure the surrounding vegetation has the short back and sides to go with the new look.
Saltholme is quite an open reserve. This means two things are certain: great views of our wildlife and strong winds. The latter has also meant that a lot of rubbish has blown into the treeline along the reserve boundary. But our wonderful work party were on-hand to remove this lounging litter before the vegetation begins to grow. Our reserve will be looking its best for Spring!
What’s On:
First and foremost, we have survived half-term. We welcomed 1838 visitors to Saltholme over the 7 days. Our trails and events proved hugely popular, and it was fantastic to see so many smiling faces in our visitor centre and around our reserve. The wildlife also performed, with the first ringed plovers of the year arriving at Saltholme Pools and avocets also visible from this hide.
Although this week has been quieter, we have still had plenty of activities to offer. Harry Otter may have skulked off somewhere with Sally Otter (they’re otterly in love- positively scatty about each other- so you can’t blame them) but the Welly Dogs are still in our Discovery Zone for you to find on your next visit. Nestbox building may have ended, but you can still build dens, mud pies, insect hotels and much more by taking on our Wild Challenge (see our Wild Challenge area in our Visitor Centre). There’s always plenty to do at Saltholme!
Recent Sightings:
As usual, we do not have time to mention all of the amazing species you can see at Saltholme. So, we will not mention the short-eared owl that posed for photos on Thursday, or the barn owl that has been seen hunting over the central meadow, or the great white egret that has become such a regular visitor it can sometimes be difficult to properly appreciate it. No, no, we can’t possibly mention any of those…
…but there are some species that we can talk about. Here they are:
It’s been double trouble at the Philstead hide this week, with two beautiful drake pintail showing the amazing tail feathers that give the species its name. Over 20,000 pintail spend the winter in the UK, with around 30 pairs staying on to breed. The pintail presence at Saltholme shows our importance as a wintering site for geese, ducks and waders.
But just in case you think we’re a cold-weather reserve only, the great crested grebes are here to prove you wrong! They have returned to their favourite spot at the back of our Main Lake; watch out for them starting their elaborate courtship dance soon, and hopefully it won’t be long before chicks follow!
Image Credit: David Tipling, RSPB Images
A bird bringing the sound of Spring to Saltholme is the Cetti’s warbler, showing it’s not just the large, obvious species that are here to be appreciated. Although rarely seen, this warbler sings loud enough to make its presence known. Want to hear its call? Click on the link above or visit our reserve next week.
Well, that’s everything for this week. Want more? Why not watch this video, filmed by Ian Robinson? We hear there are avocets...
As we march through March and spring further into Spring, there will be plenty happening at Saltholme. Make sure to keep an eye on this blog and our social media pages for updates, and please visit us 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 03/03/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Barn Owl [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/barn-owl/ [last accessed 03/03/2023].
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 03/03/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Cetti’s Warbler [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/cettis-warbler/ [last accessed 03/03/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Great Crested Grebe [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/great-crested-grebe/ [last accessed 03/03/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Great White Egret [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/great-white-egret/ [last accessed 03/03/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Pintail [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/pintail/ [last accessed 03/03/2023].
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 03/03/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Short-eared Owl [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/short-eared-owl/ [last accessed 03/03/2023].