Image Credit: American Bird Conservancy
What’s that sound? ‘What sound?’ you ask. Exactly- the schools are back and it seems eerily quiet in comparison to the summer holidays. But don’t let that fool you into thinking that nothing is happening at Saltholme- we’ve had some very interesting sightings this week, both on our main site and at Greatham Creek. Want to know what they are? You’ll have to read on!
News from the Estate:
Moorhens are often seen at our main entrance. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images.
With the summer holidays over and done with, the summer weather finally decided to arrive this week. The Estates team made the most of the sunshine and warm temperatures, donning their waders to tackle the damper tasks on the reserve…
Firstly, you may have noticed that the Visitor Centre moat is decidedly clear of reeds. The team have been hard at work clearing this moat to provide greater access for, and opportunities to see, Water Voles. We leave the reeds over the summer to provide cover for chicks such as Moorhen and Coot, but this isn’t needed over the cooler months.
If that wasn’t enough water work for you, the Estates team have also been making sure water can leave the site effectively. On Thursday, they checked the roadside ditches that carry water away from Saltholme Pools to make sure they were clear of blockages or potential blockages. As we can manually adjust water levels in some parts of the reserve, maintaining effective water flow is crucial for allowing this to happen effectively. Why would we want to control water levels? Well, in the summer lots of water means islands of breeding birds are more protected from land-based predators. In the autumn, we drop water levels to provide lots of mud filled with juicy snacks for incoming waders and other migrating species. As we are seeing more and more of our winter species arriving (yes, we know it’s only September), keeping the ditches clear means we can adjust water levels more effectively.
What’s On:
Again, it may appear to the casual observer that, after the summer holidays, there aren’t currently many Saltholme events in the pipeline. In reality, we are still using the event momentum gained over the last six weeks to plan loads more fun-filled experiences for people of all ages. So, over the next few weeks, keep your eyes peeled for:
This sell-out event will introduce you to the nocturnal wildlife of our reserve. Working with Cleveland Bat Group, we will be giving attendees the opportunity to use bat detectors and learn more about these fantastic flying mammals. Missed out on tickets? Don’t worry! We are hoping to run more of these events in the future.
Whatever the autumn may bring, you can guarantee a good day out at RSPB Saltholme. With seasonal trails, craft activities and storytelling sessions, there will be something to do whatever the weather may throw at us.
If you ask our staff and volunteers why they chose to work in the conservation sector, we can guarantee their answer will involve their love of wildlife and their desire to share their passion with others. And that is exactly what we do with the Soup and Starlings event! And really, what’s not to love about admiring the spectacles of Saltholme as the sun sets, with steaming soup to keep you warm? Click on the link above to book tickets.
It seems wrong mentioning the C-word in September, but Christmas is on its way. But don’t worry! You can kick-start your Christmas shopping (or just shopping in general) with our Artisan and Eco Fair. On the last weekend in November you can support local businesses and find unique gifts that don’t cost the earth (in any sense of the word). Keep an eye on our social media pages for more information.
Recent Sightings:
It’s been all about the sandpipers this week, with three species that we are going to mention here…
First and foremost, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper flew onto the causeway at Saltholme Pools on Thursday. This North American species then had the decency to stay all through Friday, despite the best attempts of our local Peregrine Falcons who spooked it away from the pools on Thursday afternoon.
And there were even more sandpipers at Greatham Creek:
Look for the downcurved bill to identify the Curlew Sandpiper. Image Credit: Mike Langman, RSPB Images.
Also from North America, Curlew Sandpiper have been seen amongst the seals at Greatham Creek, keeping the Pectoral Sandpiper company. We are starting to see more and more waders such as these sandpipers arriving in and around Saltholme- are sure sign of approaching autumn.
Of course, there have been plenty of other wildlife sightings at Saltholme this week. We just have time to highlight a few here, but if you were to visit us (hint, hint; nudge, nudge) then you could see all of our incredible wildlife for yourself! Why not come along and give us a try?
We hope to see you soon!
References and Additional Reading
British Trust for Ornithology (2023). Buff-breasted Sandpiper [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds/birdfacts/buff-breasted-sandpiper [last accessed 08/09/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Coot [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/coot/ [last accessed 08/09/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Curlew Sandpiper [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/curlew-sandpiper/ [last accessed 08/09/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Moorhen [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/moorhen/ [last accessed 08/09/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Pectoral Sandpiper [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/pectoral-sandpiper/ [last accessed 08/09/2023].
The Wildlife Trusts (2023). Water Vole [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/water-vole [last accessed 08/09/2023].