Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
Well, if Spring was springing last week it has now definitely sprung- astronomically, officially and in terms of wildlife. With Easter hot on the Vernal Equinox’s heels, there are many preparations afoot at Saltholme to ensure everyone can make the most of the approaching school holidays.
So, if you want to learn more about conservation, upcoming events and wildlife with one thing on their minds, read on!
News from the Estate:
Sand Martins are the first hirundines to arrive at Saltholme. ‘Hirundines’ is the collective name for swallow and martin species. Sand Martins arrive here mid- to late-March. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
Have you noticed our artificial Sand Martin nesting bank on the Main Lake? You would have certainly noticed it this week as the entire Estates Team was working on it.
The first Sand Martins of the year arrived last week (just after last week’s blog was published actually…it’s like they knew) and that means breeding season is starting to wake up and smell the coffee. This means the Estates Team have tamped down all the old sand in the artificial nesting bank and added new sand. This collapses all the old Sand Martin burrows, encouraging these birds- who normally nest in riverbanks- to dig new burrows and mimic their natural behaviour. Collapsing the burrows and adding new sand also reduces the number of parasites, meaning eggs and chicks will have improved chances of survival. This work has been done early enough to be absolutely sure there are no birds nesting in the burrows at present, so now we can sit back and watch as our hard work pays off!
What’s On:
With Easter being early this year, it feels like the ‘preparation sandwich’ between February half-term and the start of the Easter holidays has been more of a sad-looking cracker sandwich than a juicy burger. But what we have lacked in time we have made up for in productivity, and so there are plenty of events to look forward to in the coming weeks…
Firstly, we are running Easter Egg Hunts from Good Friday (29 March) to Easter Sunday (31 March). An Easter Egg hunt is always an exciting occasion but imagine how much more so it will be on a nature reserve! With a storytelling session and a chance to explore our Discovery Zone, this will be an Easter Egg hunt to remember! These hugely popular events do sell out quickly, but you can book tickets in advance using the link above. We will also be selling tickets on the day on a first-come-first-served basis. So come along and test your observation skills!
And that’s not all! Throughout the Easter Holidays (23 March- 14 April) there will be a birthday party-themed Activity Trail to enjoy. If you want to play hide-and-seek, pin the nose on the (2D, not real) Fox and take part in a scavenger hunt then this is the trail for you! What’s even better is, when you complete the trail, you get a stamp in your SALTHOLME PASSPORT to help you on your way to those all-important 15 stamps…
That sounding intriguing? That’s only a small proportion of what will be happening this Easter! Are we going to tell you what the other things are? NO. You’ll just have to visit us to find out. Granted, you could also look at our website and get all the information you need, but just let us have this one.
Recent Sightings:
Over the past week, the reserve has burst into life. The trees are greener, the first of the spring flowers are blooming and the birds are definitely starting to think about future generations. But as well as leading to an explosion of birdsong, this means the shifts are changing at Saltholme; our winter species are thinking about leaving and the spring migrants are starting arrive and settle down. Here’s a brief overview of what has been seen this week…
The Little Ringed Plover is very similar in appearance to the Ringed Plover. Look out for the distinctive yellow eye ring and pale (not orange) legs and lack of a white wing stripe. Image Credit: Ben Hall, RSPB Images
The Little Ringed Plovers are back! This is a bird that has in a way benefitted from human industry- man-made habitats such as gravel pits have mimicked its natural nesting habitat, meaning this bird is now a year-round resident in some parts of the country. At Saltholme, they can be seen on the wet grassland and in the scrape in front of the Saltholme Pools hide.
The RSPB website describes this bird as ‘small, brown and streaky’. This may be true, but the markings of this bird are much more beautiful than this description implies! Image Credit: Tom Marshall, RSPB Images
Joining the Little Ringed Plovers and the Sand Martins we mentioned earlier are the Meadow Pipits. These small but vocal birds perform their fluttering display flight in our meadows. Look out for their white outer tail feathers and jerky flight pattern.
Some Chiffchaffs migrate, but many stay in the UK year-round. However, their unmistakeable song is a sign of Spring. Image Credit: John Bridges, RSPB Images.
Speaking of vocal birds, our warblers are making a comeback! Yes, yes many stay here over winter, but Spring is when they ‘spring’ into action and begin to sing! With all this springing and Spring singing, we know we have both Chiffchaff and Cetti’s Warbler in and around our Discovery Zone. Acting like the antithesis to the model Victorian child, these birds are more often heard than seen. So, keep listening as you walk around our wonderful reserve!
The Brown Hare can reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour! Image Credit: Jake Stephen, RSPB Images
Last but certainly not least are the Brown Hares. Yes, we do have hares all year (just in case anyone was thinking of splitting hairs about hares) but they are much more active at this time of year as they begin to think about boxing (a female giving a very firm ‘no’ to an over-amorous male). So keep your eyes peeled as you walk around our meadows!
Well, that’s all we have time for today. We’ve got to get back to conserving wildlife, planning upcoming events and making sure Saltholme remains the incredible place that it currently is. You know how you could help us keep it incredible? You can visit us! We love Saltholme and love the opportunity to share it with our visitors, so come along and see us for yourself!
References and Additional Reading
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Cetti’s Warbler [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/cettis-warbler [last accessed 22/03/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Chiffchaff [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/chiffchaff [last accessed 22/03/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Little Ringed Plover [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/little-ringed-plover [last accessed 22/03/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Meadow Pipit [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/meadow-pipit [last accessed 22/03/2024].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2024). Sand Martin [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/sand-martin [last accessed 22/03/2024].
The Wildlife Trusts (2024). Brown Hare [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/brown-hare [last accessed 22/03/2024].