Before Saltholme was a nature reserve it was a farm but some areas have had industrial use. A quick look at a geology map* shows that our Meadow is 'made ground' - it is not even the original soil! So we are trying to create a traditional meadow on heavily fertilised soil of unknown origin which is not good for wildflowers. So imagine our delight to see several Northern Marsh-orchids (Dactylorhiza purpurella) flowering…

My main role today was to cut grass, this was one smaller job on the bigger picture of what we have been doing and what we will continue to do over the next few weeks. Around the main lake there is now a line of posts which have been put in as part of a new fence line for an electric fence. 

Stock (sheep and cattle) on the grass are involved with land rotation - by creating some rotation through the seasons then the…

"Please don't feed me, even when I beg. I have a cub which you may have seen, and I know there are scraps under the bird feeders, and on Saturday there was a good smell coming from the hide. I think someone had a good lunch in his sack, though I didn't get to try it."

(signed) Cunning Vixen

Our foxes are wild animals and have to fend for themselves. We put a little food out for the voles and the…

In his last blog Dean talked about the Water Vole at Wildlife Watchpoint hide, and yesterday we volunteers helped him clear some of the vegetation to maintain a clear view of the feeding platform and the water beyond. Behind our backs the food was going. On entering the hide we saw a Bank Vole eating the apple.

Volunteer guide, Bernie got this shot from the hide.

Later he also saw the Water Vole and, as it is rather…

If you want to see a water vole, then the Wildlife Watchpoint is the place to be. Now that we're putting the apples on spikes, the voles can no longer run off with the pieces, and have to sit there and feed. I've just spent 20 minutes there watching a water vole, bank vole and hedgehog, while a water rail caught flies in the background.

Lovely weather on Saturday and Lockhart shot some good pictures of Dragonflies and Damselflies, some newly emerged from our Dragonfly ponds.

A newly emerged Black Tailed Skimmer .

A pair of Azure Damselflies,

And a Four-spotted Chaser Dragonfly.

All can be seen along the Dragonfly path.

Of course the birds are here, and what could be better than to see our logo the Avocet - I was treated to a wonderful fly…

Spring has left us with the start of summer bringing out the prime in nature. Wildlife is flourishing and at the beginning of June Saltholme is coming into a time where plant growth is high and baby animals are appearing all over the reserve. The blue tit chicks, the sand martin bank and common terns on the raft all accessible to see via the monitors in the Visitors centre. The fox cubs are about the reserve and whilst…

Our first lapwing chicks of the year are currently running around the Fire Station Field. There are at least 5 of them, from two nests. There is another lapwing nest in front of the Bob Crawford Viewing Screen with sitting mother. We also have two broods each of little and great crested grebe, with two chicks of each bird at the Wildlife Watchpoint.

The weather has been good enough for Ed to set the moth trap and this morning the catch was good.

The star was the Small Elephant Hawk-moth  (Deilophila porcellus) which Ed photographed before it flew away.

The adult feeds Campions, Honeysuckle and Valerian - all of which are in the Wildlife Garden - and Viper's Bugloss and Rhododendron. The larvae feed on Bedstraws (Gallium) and we have Lady's Bedstraw on the…

My Saturday and Sunday on duty and it has been a bit of a wet one but not without its excitement. The dishwasher broke today for example; it always chooses a Bank Holiday weekend to do it. Thanks to Martin, an excellent engineer, we were soon back in business.

A Reed Warbler has been jabbering outside the office window in front of the visitor centre most of the day. Much to the delight of visitors he has been obligingly…

In his recent Site Manager's Blog, Dave mentioned the how we are progressing on creating a true, old fashioned hay meadow. The site is difficult with even the soil having been moved around and incorporating building rubble, and heavily fertilised in the past. Rank grass and weeds predominate.

Early on it was decided to add Hay Rattle, or Yellow Rattle - both names are used - and seed was bought in a by the kilo. In addition…

Last night Ed set the moth trap, and this morning we had two stunning Hawk-moths, among many other moths.

The Eyed Hawk-moth has 'eyes' on the hindwing which it shows when disturbed, which this isn't.

This Poplar Hawk-moth was feeling disturbed and shows the red on the hindwing and is vibrating the forewings to raise body temperature, which blurs the shot. Follow the links for more information and photos…

Mid-May again. It`s that time of year when I struggle to sit at my desk or in meetings. The sunshine, the blue sky and the wildlife goings-on have a huge magnetic draw and the urge to be `out there` is intense.

Needless to say I succumbed today and had my lunch break walking around part of the reserve. Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns are now settling on the islands and floating pontoons that we have made for them…

Yesterday, I undertook an exuviae collection at the dragonfly ponds. An exuvia is the empty case left behind when a dragonfly emerges. There was no sign of any activity at the north or central ponds, but the southern pond had about 15 blue tailed damselflies among the sedges, and two four spotted chasers emerging. More interesting was a single exuvia of a broad bodied chaser. This is essentially a southern species…

To give a home to birds we have to give all nature a home, which takes a lot of work on a large scale but can be easier than people may think in their small patch.

Saltholme's Wildlife Garden has been made on the site of old buildings with heavy clay subsoil. But that can be used to advantage with the right topping. The gravel bed was designed to show how nature can colonise former industrial sites. Lots of gravel -…

We are well into the nesting season and the islands are home to Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns; both are starting to nest. The gulls collect grass and other vegetation and pile it up on the islands to nake a conventional nest. Lockhart got this photo on Saturday.

The terns just move the cockleshells to make a small scrape. Both birds have black on the head but they are quiet different in shape and in the way they…

All of the work over the past month from everyone involved with lambing live is starting to show with little lambs beginning to grow in size, some of the first lambs to be born this year are looking strong and still bouncing around the fields.

The lambs are gradually weaned onto the grass (even though they try to nibble on the grass early and struggle to digest it) they will see their mother feeding constantly on it…

Lovely May sunshine yesterday and not too bad today. Which means it is not difficult to hear the song of the various warblers which are claiming territories. Lockhart took this shot of a Whitethroat in a hawthorn bush yesterday.

 Grasshopper Warblers are singing near the Visitor Centre, and Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler near the Wildlife Watchpoint. Remember to look for the Garganey from this hide which has lots going…

The Common Terns are back, so now is the time to float the rafts on which some will nest back on the main lake. The two from last year have been reassembled and the cockleshells put back before the rafts are tied to concrete blocks which anchor them. The Terns like to nest on the shells and putting them out now should lessen the chance of Black-headed Gulls choosing to nest on them.

Josh bolting the parts of the raft…

There is a great white egret at Cowpen Marsh, visible from the southern car park. However, it is very distant and a telescope will be needed for a good view. In addition, there is an RSPB work party working on the tern rafts, so it is likely to remain distant while they are there.

We currently have a black tern feeding over the Allotment Pool. This bird turend up last Friday and has previously been at Saltholme and Dorman's Pools. We still have lots of migrant wheatears about the place, and a whincaht was in the Clayfield on Sunday.

Just a year ago Ed, one of our assistant wardens, started recording moths using a light trap. This uses a light to attract the moths and holds them where they can be recorded then released unharmed.

Ed set the trap 35 nights between 23rd April and 8th October recording 1673 individual moths from over 150 species. His best find was a Waved Black which was the first recording for the vice county (a technical term based on…

There is a male scaup on Bottom Tank visible from Phil Stead Hide. Other migrants yesterday included whimbrel, little ringed plover, common sandpiper and 7 wheatear. There were also 3 yellow wagtail and a pair of avocets which look like they may attempt to breed.

We've had two pairs of garganey for over a week now, with one pair seen mating, so it would appear that both are likely to breed. One pair can be seen from the Watchpoint Hide, although they are seen infrequently through gaps in the reeds. The other pair move between Bottom Tank and the Fire Station Field.

Oystercatchers are distinctive birds with black and white plumage and an easy to recognise call. Now is a good time to get a good view from Paddy's Pool hide as a pair are on the island just to the right of the small bush. I didn't have a camera with me so for a picture follow the link - or bring your camera and take your own.

Peter