The life in the day of a hide guide. Lockhart, one of our volunteer hide guides was at Saltholme on Saturday and observed lots of wildlife. Many birds have finished breeding and are moving to new feeding grounds so we have a changing cast on our stage. The Common Terns and Black-Headed Gulls are thinning out, and snipe increasing. Others will come as the days get shorter.
In the afternoon we had heavy showers and Lockhart saw 42 Snipe emerge fron the vegetation and congregate in front of the Phil Stead Hide.
Some were still there on Sunday but I only saw four - but I did get a wonderful view of a Marsh Harrier being mobbed by a gull over the allotment pool.
Even better was Lockhart's view of a Water Rail, again in the same shower.
A pair of these shy birds have been raising a family in the reeds which grow along to main drive into the reserve. Toby, the assistant warden, and I saw them, a few weeks ago. In the cold of winter Water Rails are best seen from the Wildlfe Watchpoint Hide.
As well as birds Lockhart also saw one of our Weasels from Paddy's Pool Hide and got this great shot.
They can be seen anywhere on the reserve, in the car park and the Wildlife Garden are good places.
There is always lots of wildlife and our hide guides are there to show it to our visitors.
Thanks for the photos, Lockhart.
Peter