Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
There is nothing better than sitting down with a drink of your choice and reading this blog. Well, at least we don’t think there’s anything better than that. We may be slightly biased about the quality of the blog, but there has been a lot happening at RSPB Saltholme this week and this is the best place to catch up on what has been going on. So read on for the juicy details!
News from the Estate:
For reasons that will be disclosed later (our equivalent of a cliff-hanger), the team have been busy trimming back vegetation around the Dragonfly Pools this week. The series of fourteen pools are now brimming with life- newts, insect, plants, algae and much more- and we thought it would be quite nice if visitors were able to see this wildlife. So you can now see into the ponds (plus where the path ends and the water begins) much more easily thanks to the hard work of the Estates Team.
If that wasn’t enough, on Thursday our wardens and volunteers re-floated the final few tern rafts at Cowpen Marsh. This is so the Common Terns have more nesting spaces. And more nesting spaces mean (hopefully) more chicks! On a slightly less upbeat note, spreading out the tern rafts will hopefully reduce the spread of Avian Influenza; Saltholme has, thankfully, got away very lightly so far in regards to this virus that has decimated seabird, gull and goose populations. However, precautions must still be taken and more spread-out breeding colonies (remember covid social distancing?) will hopefully protect the birds on our site from this disease.
What’s On:
Our Dragonfly Boardwalk allows visitors to admire the pondlife without getting their feet wet. Image Credit: Claire Freeburn
And here is the answer to the cliff-hanger! Wednesday brought the official opening of our DRAGONFLY BOARDWALK! After the efforts of the Estates Team on Tuesday (see, it’s all coming together now isn’t it?) the boardwalk was looking spick-and-span for the grand opening at 11am. The boardwalk is wheelchair-accessible and the perfect place to observe and admire dragonflies, damselflies and all other pondlife that can be seen on this part of the reserve.
In fact, we are so proud of our boardwalk that we’ve based our May half-term activities around it. Ignoring the terrifying fact that it’s now officially nearly the end of May, come along to Saltholme next week for:
The lifecycle of a dragonfly is amazing. Fortunately this activity trail gives you the opportunity to discover just how amazing it is. At just £1.50 per trail sheet, this is a great way to keep the kids (and associated adults) amused and entertained.
There are many different species of dragonfly, each with particular colours and markings. You can find out what some of the UK dragonfly species look like by finding all of the sculptures and using the associated spotter’s sheet to identify them.
Dragonflies spend most of their lives as nymphs, living in ponds and other bodies of water. Dragonfly and damselfly nymphs are just two of the things you may find if you take part in one of our pond dipping sessions! At just £2 per child (£1.60 for RSPB members), this is a great activity where everyone can learn more about some of the incredible creatures that often get overlooked on our reserve.
Sound interesting? We think so too. Luckily for you, you only have to wait- to quote Les Miserables- one day more before these activities are available!
Recent Sightings:
It might be easier to say what hasn’t been seen at Saltholme this week. We have certainly not had any Dodos, Great Auks or Terror Birds at any point this week. But don’t be too disappointed- there have been plenty of other sightings…
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Firstly, it would be rude not to mention the Temminck’s Stints in front of the Saltholme Pools hide. There have been up to FOUR of these passage migrants this week- not bad going!
The South African Shelduck is also known as the Cape Shelduck. Image Credit: Warwick Tarboton
Speaking of Saltholme Pools, not only did a Ruddy Shelduck make an appearance on Wednesday, but so did a South African Shelduck. The difference between them? Green feathers- the South African Shelduck’s wings are tipped with beautiful bottle-green feathers. It also has a grey head (males) or a white head (females), whereas the Ruddy Shelduck does not.
The male Garganey has striking markings. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
Moving on to the wet grassland, where on Thursday a drake Garganey, and Ruff were both hanging out with the sole purpose of entertaining our visitors (they succeeded). Both of these birds have striking plumage, so keep an eye out for them on your next visit!
The last bird we will mention is the Red Kite that made a flying visit (no pun intended…maybe) on Thursday. It’s always lovely to see Red Kites, not just because they are beautiful birds but because they are a conservation success story- a series of reintroductions has meant this species has been brough back from the brink in the UK and is now a common sight!
Large Red Damselfly. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images.
To finish off this week’s blog, we just have to mention some of the amazing insects that have been seen recently. Let’s start off with the moths… sixty-nine Dingy Skipper moths were counted at Dorman’s Pool, and a Small Elephant Hawkmoth was also recorded. This is in addition to the dragonflies seen around our ponds- Broad-bodied Chasers and Four-spotted Chasers - and the damselflies that share the limelight (Large Red, Azure, Blue-tailed and Common Blue). Not bad for one week!
Still not satisfied with our species round-up? Fortunately for you Ian Robinson- one of our hide guides- has provided this video so you can see what else has graced the reserve with its presence this week.
We hope to see you soon!
References and Additional Reading
British Dragonfly Society (2023). Azure Damselfly [webpage]. Accessed through https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/azure-damselfly/ [last accessed 26/05/2023].
British Dragonfly Society (2023). Blue-tailed Damselfly [webpage]. Accessed through https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/blue-tailed-damselfly/ [last accessed 26/05/2023].
British Dragonfly Society (2023). Broad-bodied Chaser [webpage]. Accessed through https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/broad-bodied-chaser/ [last accessed 26/05/2023].
British Dragonfly Society (2023). Common Blue Damselfly [webpage]. Accessed through https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/common-blue-damselfly/ [last accessed 26/05/2023].
British Dragonfly Society (2023). Four-spotted Chaser [webpage]. Accessed through https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/four-spotted-chaser/ [last accessed 26/05/2023].
British Dragonfly Society (2023). Large Red Damselfly [webpage]. Accessed through https://british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/large-red-damselfly/ [last accessed 26/05/2023].
Butterfly Conservation (2023). Dingy Skipper [webpage]. Accessed through https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/dingy-skipper [last accessed 26/05/2023].
Butterfly Conservation (2023). Small Elephant Hawkmoth [webpage]. Accessed through https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/small-elephant-hawk-moth [last accessed 26/05/2023].
eBird (2023). Ruddy Shelduck [webpage]. Accessed through https://ebird.org/species/rudshe [last accessed 26/05/2023].
eBird (2023). South African Shelduck [webpage]. Accessed through https://ebird.org/species/soashe1 [last accessed 26/05/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Avian Flu [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/disease-and-garden-wildlife/avian-influenza-updates/ [last accessed 26/05/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Common Tern [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/common-tern/ [last accessed 25/05/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Garganey [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/garganey/ [last accessed 26/05/2023].
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 26/05/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Ruff [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/ruff/ [last accessed 26/05/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Temminck’s Stint [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/temmincks-stint/ [last accessed 26/05/2023].