Image Credit: Les Bunyan, RSPB Images
We have reached October half-term. We might not be entirely sure how we got here so quickly, but the autumnal colours are incredible and Saltholme has been a hive of activity over the past week (in terms of both people and wildlife). So read on for more information!
News from the Estate:
Sand martins can be seen at Saltholme in Spring and Summer. Image Credit: Ben Hall, RSPB Images
As well as giving the reeds in front of the Wildlife Watchpoint a haircut, the wonderful estates team have also been giving the sand martin nesting bank some TLC. This artificial nesting bank can be seen from the main visitor centre and provides sand martins with the perfect place to raise their young. It also gives visitors the perfect view of these amazing birds. This is even more true thanks to the efforts of the work party, who spent Tuesday removing vegetation that threatened to block the burrows from view. Some members of the team may have trudged home in soggy socks as a result of their efforts, but it will all be worth it when the sand martins return in spring/summer 2023!
Socks became even soggier on Thursday, when the work party once again ventured into ponds for the sake of our wildlife. This time, it was vegetation in the Dragonfly Ponds that needed controlling. Plants that had the temerity to encroach on the open water zones of these pools were cut and pulled. Why? Well, by having multiple open areas within each pond we aim to encourage a greater number of adult dragonflies to set up territories.
What’s On:
Schoolchildren have been unleashed for October half-term this week. And what better place to run off some energy than Saltholme? This is especially true as we have had loads of fun-filled activities available, with more to come this weekend!
The Saltholme Sorcerer picked a great place to have a tea party! Image Credit: Olivia Dunn
The main attraction has been the return of the Saltholme Sorcerer. This year, she managed to invite all of her friends to a tea party without thinking about how they were going to get there; the only available transport was broomstick. So, we needed some help from the children visiting our reserve. Fortunately for us, the Sorcerer and her friends you responded with great enthusiasm. Over 100 children took up the challenge, found the Saltholme Sorcerer’s friends and safely delivered them to where tea and cake were being served (both of which of the type that are, for the purposes of this trail, suitable for consumption by a variety of species). The trail will be available until 4:30pm on 30 October, so come along and give it a go!
And if that wasn’t enough excitement for you, Saturday craft activities have also proved hugely popular. Tomorrow, we will be making lollipop-stick bats! This is a donate-as-you-feel event and is available whatever the weather may throw at us (the activity takes place inside, in the warm). And THERE IS NO AGE LIMIT; adults can get just as stuck-in as the children (which is good, as children need to be supervised by a responsible adult throughout the craft activity).
Recent Sightings:
The scaup feeds on insects, crustacea and shellfish. Image Credit: David J Slater, RSPB Images
The big news this week is that we scoped out a scaup on Thursday! This species is the UK’s rarest breeding duck, but over 6000 of these birds spend the winter here. This individual decided that Saltholme Pools looked like the place to be. The scaup looks very much like a tufted duck with a less fancy hairdo and, seen as we have a fair few tufted ducks on-site, was therefore only found thanks to the eagle-eyed (pun absolutely intended) wardens and hide guides.
Cattle egrets are one of three egret species seen regularly in the UK. You can also find the other two- little and great white egrets- at Saltholme. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
After a brief foray away from the reserve, the cattle egret has returned. True to form, it has been spending a lot of its time with the cattle that roam the wet grassland. The best views of this bird have generally been from our Paddy’s Pool hide.
The lesser redpoll is smaller and darker than the common redpoll. The two have only recently been classified as separate species. Image Credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB Images
Lesser redpoll and siskin have been tucking into the seeds of our alder trees this week. Most of these trees can be found in our car park. The fact that you can see species like this before even entering the main site shows just how good our reserve is (in our completely unbiased opinion, of course). So keep your eyes peeled from the moment you step out of your car (just please keep your eyes on the road when driving, cycling, or using any other mode of transport).
Over 33,000 grey plover spend the winter in the UK. Image Credit: Andy Hay, RSPB Images
You have to love a species where the name tells you what you need to be looking out for. The plovers are brilliant for this: the golden plover has beautiful gold feathers (in the breeding season), the ringed plover has a distinctive band around its neck, the little ringed plover has a similar band to the ringed plover but is more vertically challenged, and the grey plover is…grey. It is the final species that has made an appearance at Saltholme this week. And don’t let the monochrome name put you off; these birds are beautiful!
As you can see, Saltholme boasts a huge variety of birdlife. This is in addition to all the other forms of flora and fauna you may stumble across here. In other words, you don’t know what amazing sights are lying in wait around the corner when you visit our reserve. Want a taster? Watch this video, filmed by Ian Robinson, to see some of the species that call Saltholme ‘home’. Oh, and don’t forget to visit!
References and Additional Reading
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Cattle Egret [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/cattle-egret/ [last accessed 28/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Golden Plover [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/golden-plover/ [last accessed 28/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Grey Plover [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/grey-plover/ [last accessed 28/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Lesser Redpoll [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/lesser-redpoll/ [last accessed 28/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Little Ringed Plover [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/little-ringed-plover/ [last accessed 28/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Ringed Plover [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/ringed-plover/ [last accessed 28/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Sand Martin [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/sand-martin/ [last accessed 27/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Scaup [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/scaup/ [last accessed 28/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Siskin [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/siskin/ [last accessed 28/10/2022].
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (2022). Tufted Duck [webpage]. Accessed through https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/tufted-duck/ [last accessed 28/10/2022].