Image Credit: RSPB Images
Wow…another week gone! They definitely don’t make them like they used to. But oh well, at least there has been lots to see and do at Saltholme to distract you from the relentless march of time…
News from the Estate:
Another busy week for the estates team, with fences to repair around the reserve. Whilst it may not seem the most ‘conservation-y’ job, repairing fences is important for keep livestock (and visitors) to designated areas. This not only keeps livestock and visitors safe, but also allows ground-nesting birds to successfully breed in areas where disturbance is minimal.
Our Youth Ranger Team have also been out and about; on Saturday they started to give the Willow Maze some much-needed TLC. Whilst the maze will be closed for the foreseeable future, the work of the Youth Ranger Team brings it one step closer to its former glory.
What’s On:
Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
The big bank holiday weekend may be behind us, but that doesn’t mean the fun has stopped! Our Easter Activity Trail has still been in full swing this week; children have loved matching the birds to the eggs they lay (and the certificate they get for completing it).
And that isn’t all! Pond dipping sessions made their re-appearance over the Easter weekend, and they have once again proved very popular. Running on selective weekdays and weekends, these half-hour sessions have uncovered pregnant sticklebacks, caddis fly larvae, dragonfly nymphs and much more!
Recent Sightings:
Image Credit: Mike Langman, RSPB Images
It’s been all about the geese this week; two Egyptian geese were seen from both the main lake and the Saltholme Pools hide. These birds are related to the shelduck, which is a species commonly seen on our site.
Image Credit: Andy Hay, RSPB Images
A pink-footed goose was also hanging around Saltholme Pools on Saturday. This bird was probably resting on its migration route back up to Scandinavia.
But this is not all- with the spring weather now in full force, many species are returning to Saltholme in preparation for the upcoming summer. One of our hide guides- Ian Robinson- has filmed a video that shows some of these species. You can watch this video here.
That’s all for this week, but we hope to see you soon!
References and Additional Reading
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Egyptian Goose [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/egyptian-goose/ [last accessed 23/04/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Pink-footed Goose [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/pink-footed-goose/ [last accessed 23/04/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Shelduck [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/shelduck/ [last accessed 23/04/2022].
The Wildlife Trusts (2022). Caddisfly [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/other-insects/caddisfly [last accessed 23/04/2022].
The Woodland Trust (2018). British Dragonflies: Larvae, Wings and Lifecycle [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2018/07/british-dragonflies/?gclid=CjwKCAjwx46TBhBhEiwArA_DjHc_fOuwQIbxWLrilkkYyHLcVEubPBmkXKeCOFmCy4eZ1HevnD3oJxoCPV4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds [last accessed 23/04/2022].