Hello again! Another month has passed and Saltholme is definitely changing shift; the summer migrants are beginning to settle in, and our winter visitors are moving back to colder climes. This seems strange, considering the world has spent the last couple of days snowing on us. Oh well....
SPECIAL SECTION: CHANGES TO ENTRY FEES
As of 1 April (today), entry fees at Saltholme will be changing. Entry to the visitor centre, shop and café is still free of charge. Entry to the reserve for non-RSPB members will now be as follows:
Children under the age of 5 years, and the first child in a group over the age of 5 years, have free entry to the reserve. Carers (up to two carers per individual) are also exempt from entry fees. RSPB members can still visit Saltholme and other reserves free of charge.
Now onto what has been happening at Saltholme this week!
News from the Estate:
Younger visitors to our site may notice that the playground has been given some TLC; routine maintenance to the playground means it will continue to deliver safe, high-quality fun!
Next to the Alice in Wonderland table, you may have noticed some new additions. We are in the process of replacing the ash trees we had to fell due to infections with ash dieback. We’re looking forward to seeing how these trees grow!
What’s On:
Image Credit: Josh Swales
With Easter holidays approaching, we have had lots of school groups visiting our reserve to celebrate the fact that the end of term is in sight. In fact, we hosted a group of reception children on their FIRST EVER SCHOOL TRIP on Tuesday! They thoroughly enjoyed learning about land minibeasts, senses and seasons through a wide range of activities. After coronavirus halted school trips and outdoor learning opportunities, it is fantastic to be opening our doors to schools once more.
To find out more about our school trips and how to book them, contact our Learning Officer- Josh Swales- at josh.swales@rspb.org.uk or visit our website.
We also have a very special visitor on the reserve this week- Harry Otter! He is- you guessed it- an otter who is busy showing the world how awesome Saltholme is. He has been trying out all the activities Saltholme has to offer, and his adventures will be documented on Facebook and Twitter over the coming days. Keep an eye out for these ‘Saltholme Snapshots’!
Recent Sightings:
Image Credit: Andy Hay, RSPB Images
Wednesday saw the arrival of a common scoter. Despite its name, these seaducks have suffered severe population declines in the UK, being particularly vulnerable to oil spills and other environmental pollution. However, when left to their own devices, these birds can live to be up to 16 years old!
Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
The group of reception children visiting on Thursday morning were lucky enough to see a fox from the Wildlife Watchpoint hide! These mammals are the UK’s only wild member of the dog family. They have scent glands in their feet; they mark routes they often use with this scent and so they can follow them accurately in the dark!
As usual, there are so many more species to see at Saltholme. We tend to just highlight bird and mammal species in this blog, but we have had some very good sightings of insects too! For example, a fly called ‘Tachina ursina’ was seen this week. These flies are fluffy and are seen at the start of spring. So, despite what the weather has been doing this week, we can be sure that winter is now behind us! Keep an eye on our social media pages and sightings board for more signs of spring.
One of our hide guides- Ian Robinson- has filmed a video that highlights some of these less well-known Saltholme species. You can watch it here.
We hope to see you soon!
References and Further Reading
Immediate Media Company Ltd. (2022). Fly of the Month- Tachina ursina [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/insects-invertebrates/fly-of-the-month-tachina-ursina/ [last accessed 31/03/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Common Scoter [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/common-scoter/ [last accessed 30/03/2022].
The Wildlife Trusts (2022). Common Scoter [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/waterfowl/common-scoter [last accessed 31/03/2022].
The Wildlife Trusts (2022). Red Fox [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/red-fox [last accessed 31/03/2022].
The Woodland Trust (2022). Ash Dieback [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/tree-pests-and-diseases/key-tree-pests-and-diseases/ash-dieback/ [last accessed 01/04/2022).
The Woodland Trust (2022). Fox [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/mammals/fox/ [last accessed 31/03/2022].