Hi guys, you may have noticed our community pages were down for maintenance most of last week. John wrote this blog last week so we thought you would still like to know what we saw on the reserve last month. So here it is:
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The return of unsettled weather and regular showers has brought with it a renewed burst of vegetation growth and wildflower bloom. Haverton wildflower walk and scrub trial are really coming into their own with lush vegetation hosting many ground nesting species such as meadow pipit and skylark.
The vegetation and thick blooms of birds-foot trefoil and buttercup carpet the hill lay on a bounty of grass and nectar for the butterfly larvae and adults respectively. Making this patch one of the most productive in our weekly butterfly survey. As well as Large White, recently covered by BBC’s Springwatch, we regularly see Small White, Wall Brown and ringlet
Large whites are seen regularly on site at this time of year
Toby’s Curlew Sandpiper continued to remain showing on the 8th and 11th. Common tern numbers continued to arrive, the reserve’s nationally significant colony was estimated at 250+ individuals around mid June, many of which have gained breeding territories on the islands and new tern rafts specially constructed for them this year.
A walk along the wildflower meadow path can produce sightings of otherwise well concealed creatures such as Field Vole and Shrew crossing the path, both of which I’ve happened across as they take advantage of the increased sunshine and warmer temperatures which create an abundance of the summer food source small insects like beetles and caterpillars.
Tree Sparrows have nested and bred in the hedgerows next to Wildlife Watchpoint hide and a few of the juveniles were spotted testing out their new wings.
Periodical appearances of Little Gull, Little Tern and Sandwich Tern on Saltholme pool have kept us scanning the tern and gull colonies for new arrivals. The Sandwich Terns were very mobile, moving round many of reserve’s pools and providing multiple viewpoint, even from the reserve’s cafe, where they perched and fed only meters away, to the delight of visitors enjoying a tasty lunch.
Video clip of Sandwich Terns and Common terns taken on the reserve last week.
Signs of late migrants are still evident, as Ruff, Dunlin, Redstart and Greenshank have all been recorded during the second half of June. The male Ruff was moulting into its stunning breeding plumage, even in this transitional phase the striking patterns of this flamboyant species are obvious. Male Ruff try to impress females with their colourful plumage and display, both of which require energy to grow and perform, thus showing that the male with the best feathers and strength to defend this territory is the fittest and best choice for female birds to breed with.
Photo of the moulting male Ruff taken by IanF
Resident bird, like the Peregrine Falcons and our Grey Partridges have also been displaying well. The Peregrines have been observed hunting, whereas the Grey Partridges have been seen leading their small brood of hatchlings around, trying to avoid detection by hungry predators. Seeing secretive species like voles and partridges up close is an unexpected surprise, which to me shows why Saltholme is so special and keeps me coming back hoping for another close encounter.
-John