This was the moment we knew we had a Squacco Heron on the reserve:
Andrew Clark managed to get the photo through the Watchpoint Hide windows, as we confirmed the bird's identification with the help of those white wings. Great excitement for a Thursday morning and a good job we didn't manage to get out in front of the hide and cut back the vegetation as we planned.
This is another first for Cleveland, the fifth on habitat created and managed by RSPB Saltholme since the reserve opened.
The bird hasn't been seen this morning (Friday) but it does have a habit of hiding in the reeds.