Hi,
In a week dominated by westerly winds it is perhaps not too surprising that the number of newly arrived migrant birds on site was limited. However the slight lull in migration activity provided the perfect opportunity for visitors to sit back and simply enjoy the spectacles that an autumn visit to Saltholme can offer. One of the best spectacles at present is the sight and sound of over one thousand Golden Plover flashing gold to white in the sky as they twist and turn in order to avoid a fatal hit from the local Peregrines.
Over one thousand Golden Plover produce a Saltholme spectacle (Thanks to Ian F for the photograph).
This week’s wader totals included, 6x Dunlin (26th), 11x Black-tailed Godwit, 2x Bar-tailed Godwit, 40+ Snipe and 7x Ruff.
Whooper Swan movements continued with herds of 16 (26th), 17 (28th) and 8 (30th) on the main reserve this week. A single Whooper Swan was also observed on Cowpen Marsh (near the Seal View Point, 29th). Many of these birds will be on route to traditional wintering grounds in East Anglia which includes our RSPB Ouse Washes reserve.
A single Snow Bunting sighted near Haverton Gate was an excellent reserve record (25th-26th) whilst other passerine records included a Brambling (Phil Stead Hide, 26th), 20x Fieldfare and 1x Siskin (over the Visitor Centre).
In a good year over 100 Snow Bunting winter in the Tees Estuary, a sighting on the reserve is rare and always special (Thanks to Tim Robinson for the photograph of a bird sighted near the estuary).
Other interesting bird sightings this week included, 1x Long-tailed Duck, 4x Pintail, 2x Marsh Harrier and 1x Merlin. Whilst an impressive roost count of 34 Little Egrets near Greatham Creek not only highlighted the number of birds currently utilising the Tees Marshes but also the continuing success of this species in the UK.
Normally a sea duck this Long-tailed Duck has found Saltholme East to its liking (Thanks to Ian F for the photograph).
On the non-avian front autumnal colour potentially peaked during the week with the reserve’s hedgerows and treelines filled with rich shades of red, yellow and orange. Late flowering plants such as ivy proved to be zones of high activity as wasps and butterflies exploited the last of the season’s nectar.
Cheers,
Adam