On Monday two special things will happen at Saltholme. Firstly, the track outside these compound gates will be tarmacked which means I won't bounce along to the gates in the morning anymore. And secondly, a 13 tonne excavator will be creating more muddy habitat in front of the Phil Stead Hide. This is to get birds such as this Snipe, photographed by Dan McKie, closer to visitors.
More than 40 Snipe were present in this area yesterday along with a Spotted Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits. In preparation for the work, we are drawing the water down, as we'd rather the 13 tonnes of digger doesn't submerge. This will expose more mud, which contains the Chronomid midge larvae which wading birds love to eat. This should make the week end an interesting time to be in the Phil Stead Hide.