Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images.
Even though the sun disappeared with the end of October half-term, the birds most certainly have not. That’s right, it’s been another brilliant birdwatching week at Saltholme and we intend to tell you all about it in this blog. We’ll throw in some other stuff about our conservation work and events so you get an even clearer image of reserve life. We’ll even do our best to keep the bad jokes to a minimum this week, although we can’t make any promises in that respect. Read on for more!
News from the Estate:
As usual, the Estates Team have been remarkably busy this week. In fact, they’ve been so busy that all the staff have needed to lead different tasks, in different places, to make sure everything gets done! Here’s a brief round-up of what some of those tasks were…
Sea Buckthorn produces bright orange berries in the autumn. Image Credit: Sue Kennedy, RSPB Images.
On Tuesday, while one member of the team was overseeing the un-clogging of the sewage system (conservation is so glamorous at times), another member of the team was leading the wonderful work party. This week, this wonderful work party spent Tuesday removing Sea Buckthorn from the Haverton Scrub. Sea Buckthorn is a shrub species native to the east coast of England, where it grows on sand dunes. However, in other areas of the country it is considered invasive. This is because it grows in very dense thickets and so can shade out other plant species. As we want to increase biodiversity by providing space for many species to grow, we are helping wildflowers and other species have a chance by controlling the dominant Sea Buckthorn.
On Wednesday, as other Estates staff were performing the routine but critical surveying and maintenance work on the reserve, another Estates Staff Member was leading a college work party. That’s right- you can bring your college group to Saltholme for some conservation work experience! This particular group have been visiting weekly to help us perform the habitat management tasks that dominate the timetable at this time of year. At Saltholme, we think it’s critical to inspire others to care about nature and to give people the opportunity to get a foot through the door into the conservation world. Who knows, maybe some of these students will be inspired to pursue a career in the conservation sector!
And the fun didn’t stop there. Get to Thursday and the same theme continues- some staff lead the wonderful Work Party in managing a stony area below the sea wall at Cowpen Marsh, whilst others inputted the results of species surveys into RSPB databases, performed site checks, completed project work and much more. It just goes to show how much goes into maintaining and improving the land at Saltholme. We could not do it without our incredible volunteers and members of staff, working together to make space for nature!
What’s On:
Image Credit: Katie Nethercoat, RSPB Images.
Our Dusk Walks (Soup and Starlings) are just around the corner! In fact, they start on Sunday 10 November and carry on (every Thursday and Sunday) right up until Thursday 28 November. We’re also pleased to report that the Starlings are also aware of this event and have been practicing their murmurations for about a week. So far, we think around 10,000 Starlings have been involved in these rehearsals so we’re very hopeful these events will be absolutely spectacular! There are still spaces available on 24 and 28 November, so if you would like to book tickets you can do so here.
Did you know we don’t just run events at Saltholme? We also deliver external talks. On Thursday this week, we told Hartlepool Retired Men’s Forum all about the history of the RSPB, the history of Saltholme and the amazing wildlife on our reserve. We felt wonderfully welcomed by the Forum and it’s always fantastic to spread the word about Saltholme and the work we do. Fancy a talk delivered to your organisation? Email us at saltholme@rspb.org.uk!
Recent Sightings:
It’s not just the staff that have been out-and-about this week. As autumn progresses we have had many more passage migrants stop over at Saltholme, as well as the continued arrival of our winter species. Here are some of the highlights from this week:
Twite feed on seeds, like the Linnet with which they are often seen. Image Credit: Tom Marshall, RSPB Images.
Two Twite were spotted just outside our Walled Garden on Tuesday, and then later spotted in the wooded area just opposite this Walled Garden. It’s always lovely to see Twite, and it always breeds a sense of achievement when they are spotted because they usually like hiding in groups of Linnet.
The UK numbers of Siskin are boosted every year by visitors from Europe. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images.
Visitors didn’t even need to go around the reserve to birdwatching, thanks to the Siskins that graces us with their presence in the car park. These colourful finches are slightly smaller than a Greenfinch and can be identified by the yellow patches on their wings and tails.
The Ruddy Shelduck is quite a large duck, so can be confused for a goose species. Image Credit: Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.
A Ruddy Shelduck was seen from the Saltholme Pools hide on Thursday. Ruddy Shelducks are originally from southern Europe, North Africa and central and southern Asia.
Male Sparrowhawks are smaller than females and have a dark grey back. The bars on their chest are an orange colour. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images.
Last but not least was the young Sparrowhawk that perched on top of the Sand Martin nesting bank on Thursday. Whilst Sparrowhawks are not an unusual sighting for Saltholme, it is unusual to have such a good view of one for so long. This is particularly true when it decided to perch on the edge of the reedbed, right in front of the Viewing Gallery windows!
Well, that’s all we have time for this week. As you can see, it’s been another busy and highly successful week at RSPB Saltholme. If you would like to be a part of this, it’s very easy- just visit us! We hope to see you soon.
References and Additional Reading
British Trust for Ornithology (2024). Ruddy Shelduck [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds/birdfacts/ruddy-shelduck [last accessed 08/11/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Siskin [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/siskin [last accessed 08/11/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Sparrowhawk [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/sparrowhawk [last accessed 08/11/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Starling [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/starling [last accessed 08/11/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Twite [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/twite [last accessed 08/11/2024].
The Wildlife Trusts (2024). Sea Buckthorn [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/trees-and-shrubs/sea-buckthorn [last accesesd 08/11/2024].