Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
We always seem to start this blog with a very British comment about the weather, an existential crisis about the passing of time, or a combination of the two. So we’ve decided to break with tradition this week and go…off script. So, instead we will simply say that, with May half-term and a bank holiday weekend to deal with, this week at Saltholme has certainly been brilliantly busy in terms of visitors, events and wildlife sightings. Read on for more!
News from the Estate:
Grass. We have a lot of it. Although we now have slightly less thanks to the efforts of the Estates volunteers- on Tuesday and Thursday this week, our wonderful work party spent their time stopping our Visitor Centre being buried underneath a rapidly growing mass of vegetation. You will be pleased to know that they have succeeded in managing the growing grass and you can still see out of the visitor centre windows. Want to know what you can see out of the windows? Well, you’ll just have to wait until the ‘Recent Sightings’ section, won’t you?
Monitoring is a critical part of conservation, providing the baseline knowledge on which conservation management techniques are based. It ensures each site is managed in the way that best suits its wildlife. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
Of course, the Estates team have not just been battling belligerent plants all week. One of the many other tasks they have been doing is monitoring the productivity of our birds. ‘Productivity’ refers to what proportion of chicks that hatch at Saltholme successfully fledge (in this case, meaning leave the nest or become capable of flight). Measuring bird productivity gives us a good indication of the ‘health’ of our reserve and its bird populations; a high productivity means lots of chicks survive until fledging, indicating good food sources and that predation is in-check. Of course, it would be impossible to get this kind of information from one count; wardens perform multiple counts, across the whole reserve, throughout the breeding season. They often start VERY early in the morning, completing surveys before then starting the myriad of other conservation tasks that are necessary at this time of year. So next time you see a warden (probably clutching binoculars and/or some form of caffeine), give them a pat on the back.
What’s On:
It has been May half-term this week, which has included the late May bank holiday. This has meant Saltholme has been wonderfully busy, with plenty of visitors eager to explore this incredible place (no, we’re not biased). And there has been a lot to explore! We have been running a series of dragonfly-themed activities. Our activity trail has allowed families to discover the incredible life cycle of these insects, and both dragonfly and damselfly nymphs have been found in our ever-popular pond dipping sessions. Children (and adults. Go on, you can admit it.) have thoroughly enjoyed finding all the dragonfly sculptures in the Walled Garden and along our new Dragonfly Boardwalk too. In short, there has been something for everyone to enjoy. And the best news is that this is all still available! Half-term isn’t over until 4 June, so why not plan in a trip to Saltholme this weekend?
Recent Sightings:
It can be easy to think that the larger and rarer the species, the more important it is. But everything in the ecosystem is connected (cue ‘Lion King’ music) and so affects other species. So, this week we would like to highlight some of the wildlife that you may have inadvertently overlooked…
The Northern Marsh Orchid can be found in wet grassland areas. Image Credit: Alison Searl, RSPB Images.
Firstly, did you know that we have plenty of Northern Marsh Orchid on-site? It is a species that is becoming increasingly abundant in our meadows, and one that marks the start of our orchid season. Did you know there are over 50 species of wild orchid in Britain? Well, you do now. They are not just beautiful in their own right, but also serve as an important food source for pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies. See what plants you can spot from our Wildflower Walk on your next visit.
The Common Blue butterfly is found in a variety of grassy habitats. Image Credit: Verity Hill, RSPB Images
Speaking of butterflies, both Brown Argus and Common Blue have been seen on the reserve this week. Yes, the Common Blue may be the most common blue butterfly in the UK (no guesses for where the name came from), but you have to admit they are absolutely gorgeous and of course are very important for spreading the pollen of our native wildflower species!
The Sandwich Tern is named after Sandwich Bay in Kent. Image Credit: Chantal Macleod-Nolan, RSPB Images.
Ok, we will mention some of the rarities we’ve seen this week. To begin with, we have had a couple of Black Terns that were (briefly) present at Saltholme Pools. They may have flown off before the reserve opened, but it still counts! Later that same day (which was Thursday, if you were wondering), a juvenile Sandwich Tern was also spotted from the Saltholme Pools hide. No Handbrake or Funny Terns joined them, but you never know what twists and terns lie ahead.
The Spoonbill is a large bird- some individuals reach a height of 90 centimetres and can weigh up to 2 kilograms. Image Credit: Lockhart Horsburgh.
It would be rude not to mention the lovely Spoonbill that popped in for a quick rest and refuel on Wednesday. We are lucky enough to see these birds relatively regularly at Saltholme, but that does not mean we’re not still excited whenever we see one!
Great Crested Grebes are terrible at walking on land- their legs are very far back along their bodies to help them swim and dive, but this makes any out-of-water activity quite difficult! Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
We’ve got to finish this week’s blog by mentioning the successful hatching of the latest batch of Great Crested Grebes. Seen as this species was nearly hunted to extinction in the UK, for the use of its feathers in Ladies’ Hats in the 1800s, the continued breeding success of this beautiful bird is a real conservation success story. Keep an eye out for the chicks- with distinctive striped markings- riding on their parents’ backs on our Main Lake.
If you would like more information on the species (and their young!) seen recently at RSPB Saltholme, why not watch this video- filmed by Ian Robinson- to unearth more of the myriad Saltholme species. Of course, even this is no substitute for visiting us and exploring the reserve for yourself (hint, hint), so we hope to see you soon!
References and Additional Reading
Butterfly Conservation (2023). Brown Argus [webpage]. Accessed through https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/brown-argus [last accessed 01/06/2023].
Butterfly Conservation (2023). Common Blue [webpage]. Accessed through https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/common-blue [last accessed 01/06/2023].
Hardy Orchid Society (2023). Norther Marsh Orchid [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.hardyorchidsociety.org.uk/hos%201012/orchidphotos/dactylorhiza-purpurella/jQueryGallery1/d-purpurella.html [last accessed 01/06/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Black Tern [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/black-tern/ [last accessed 01/06/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Great Crested Grebe [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/great-crested-grebe/ [last accessed 01/06/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Sandwich Tern [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/sandwich-tern/ [last accessed 01/06/2023].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2023). Spoonbill [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/spoonbill/ [last accessed 01/06/2023].
The Wildlife Trusts (2023). Sandwich Tern [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/seabirds/sandwich-tern [last accessed 01/06/2023].