Hi everyone,
This is the time of year when mammoth journeys come to an end. Things change from minute to minute as new arrivals settle in. Mind you, it's also a time of quick stops and fleeting visits. So what's been at Saltholme today?
A green sandpiper made a very brief stop in front of wildlife watchpoint. This wonderful picture of a green sandpiper isn't from today, but it was added to Saltholme's facebook page a couple of days ago.
Early in the day, a ringed plover and a dunlin were making the most of the exposed mud along the edges of Back Saltholme pool.
Most of the warblers are back from their African winter holiday too . Their colossal journeys always astound me. My favourite warbler is the grasshopper warbler. Today there was one calling near the wildlife watchpoint but we've had them calling in most corners of Saltholme. If you've not heard one before, I think that they sound a bit like a traditional alarm clock that's had its bells taken off. You can test your ears and listen to their call online here.
Other guests today were making their way further north. Just before we opened, 10 pink-footed geese flew north over the visitor centre. Later in the morning, eight of them dropped in at Saltholme Pools Hide for a quick refuel. Another northern traveller - a lone Brent goose - stopped off on the main lake for most of the day. Visitors in the cafe and viewing gallery had a brilliant chance to see this duck-like goose. Who knows, it might still be around tomorrow.
Two little ringed plovers have returned from yet another gargantuan journey, and are settling in nicely on one of the cockleshell islands on the main lake. Hopefully they'll breed there again this year. Their tranquility will soon be disturbed though once the common terns now that the first common terns have returned.
Speaking of cockleshell islands and terns, Paddy's Pool island is already appealing to raucous black-headed gulls. The common terns will soon be adding their screeches into the mêlée. Watching the rumpus today were a single avocet and a greenshank - both of them ending or continuing a journey of their own.
Lynda, one of Saltholme's wonderful centre volunteers, spotted a brazen fox crossing path at bottom of car park just before 10:30am.
Things are changing every day, so now's a great time to visit for some spring excitement.
Bye for now,
Ben.