Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RPSB Images
It’s been a week where staff, visitors, and birds alike have all been lightly toasted. But despite the high temperatures the reserve has been full of activity. Read on to find out more!
News from the Estate:
Hedgerows are an important habitat in their own right, but also act as ‘wildlife corridors’. Wildlife Corridors are areas that allow species to move from one place to another. They are important for connecting isolated pockets of habitats. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
The team have once again had a busy week. Here’s what they have been up to:
Hedges are very important. They act as highways between places, allowing wildlife to move easily between habitats. They are also important habitats in themselves; they provide places to nest for a variety of bird species, and a good supply of berries in the winter. To encourage the growth of hedgerow saplings that we planted earlier in the year, the estates team are removing grasses and other vegetation from around them to make sure these hedgerows are supporting wildlife for years to come.
It’s always nice to see where solid ground ends and water begins. It’s also nice to see which dragonflies and damselflies are using the series of ponds on the way to Saltholme Pools. Thanks to our work party volunteers, you can now do both! The grass around the edge of the ponds has been cut and raked away, allowing you to see all the amazing pond creatures without joining them.
The playground has been getting a lot of use over the summer holidays. The same is true of the picnic benches outside the playground. Some of the benches and play equipment had begun to protest. But wobbly benches and cracked ground have now been rectified, meaning the play area is back up to full strength.
Bindweeds- or convolvulus- are a group of plant species that climb up the stems of other plants to grow. Whilst they are beautiful to look at and provide a food source for insects, they can also take over an area very quickly. The estates team have halted the bindweed march to our walled garden, meaning the bindweed can stay outside the walls, and the plants inside can remain free of them.
These four tasks- only a small part of the remit of the estates team- show what a varied job it is to manage a nature reserve. The estates staff and volunteers are invaluable!
What’s On:
Can you believe that this week has marked the halfway point of the summer holidays?! Time flies when you are having fun.
Image Credit: David Tipling, RSPB Images
This week, we have been running Meadow Sweeping. What is meadow sweeping? Well, it’s the opportunity to use a sweep net (pictured above) to catch the multitude of minibeasts that call our meadows home. Not only that, but our wonderful Nature Activity Leaders have been having a great time identifying what everyone has found. Pictured below is the beautiful common stretch spider that was found earlier on this week.
The common stretch spider gets its name from its escape behaviour. To avoid being eaten, it stretches out so it becomes the same width as the blades of grass it rests on. It’s a very efficient hiding method! Image Credit: Imogen Coverdale
Next week, we will be running pond dipping. So, come along to Saltholme next week for more summer holiday fun!
Recent Sightings:
There have been some unusual sightings for Saltholme this week…
Kingfishers feed on fish and aquatic insects. Because of this, it is often seen close to running or still water. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
The Philstead hide came up trumps again on Thursday; in case glossy ibis, a barn owl, and a merlin weren’t enough for you, a kingfisher was also spotted looking for fish in the pool. This metallic blue bird is more often seen over running water and tends to nest in the banks of rivers and streams. So it is rare to see one on our series of pools and lakes! But we are very pleased that it made an appearance.
You can tell a lot about great spotted woodpeckers from their heads: males have a red patch on the back of the head (females don’t), and young birds have a red crown. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
Another great spot has been the great spotted woodpecker. Seen on Wednesday, this bird often hangs around woodland areas. We’re not complaining that it decided to visit Saltholme instead!
Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
Ok, the next one isn’t exactly unusual for our site. But the bittern is so elusive that it’s sometimes weeks between sightings! Bitterns have been seen at both the Haverton Viewpoint and the Philstead hide.
Spoonbills sweep their eponymous bill from side to side to find and catch small fish and aquatic invertebrates. Image Credit: Mike Langman, RSPB Images
Finally, five spoonbills were hanging around our Saltholme Pools hide. Again, we often have spoonbills at Saltholme. Five in one go is pretty special.
Not a bad list of sightings for the middle of a heatwave. And we have only covered a tiny proportion of what has been gracing Saltholme with its presence. Watch this video, filmed by Ian Robinson, for a more complete overview of what has been seen recently. And why not visit us next week to see these amazing species for yourself?
References and Additional Reading
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Barn Owl [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/barn-owl/ [last accessed 11/08/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Bittern [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/bittern/ [last accessed 11/08/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Great Spotted Woodpecker [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/great-spotted-woodpecker/ [last accessed 11/08/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Kingfisher [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/kingfisher/ [last accessed 11/08/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Merlin [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/merlin/ [last accessed 11/08/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Spoonbill [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/spoonbill/ [last accessed 11/08/2022].
Spider Spotter (2022). Common Stretch Spider [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.spiderspotter.com/en/species/long-jawed-orb-weavers/78-common-stretch-spider [last accessed 11/08/2022].
The Wildlife Trusts (2022). Kingfisher [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/woodpeckers-cuckoo-kingfisher-and-waxwing/kingfisher [last accessed 11/08/2022].