Salthome RSPB Reserve, 25th October 2008 · John Olley · Added 8 November 2008

A fantastic opportunity to visit the Salthome site was met with a very windy and cold morning.  However Durham Bird Club members are a hardy and endearing bunch! Twenty people were joined by the RSPB visitor officer, Emily Smith, who quickly took us to the new wild bird discovery centre (due to open in mid January). I think that we are in for a great new year's present when this reserve opens to the public. It will, I am sure, provide a magnificent facility for bird watching and education for many years to come. Birds noted while in the car park were Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, a close hunting Kestrel and Black-headed Gull. 

Our next port of call was the new hide overlooking Saltholme pools. This is a well designed hide with plenty of space and a range of viewing slots. It certainly provides a new perspective over the pools which you otherwise can struggle to watch from the busy A178. From the hide we saw good numbers of wildfowl with Pintail, Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon with waders such as Redshank, Curlew and Lapwing. 

The next hide we visited was "Paddy's" which overlooks a large pool with a large tern island. Again this will provide an excellent facility one which I am sure will entertain all who visit. Birds noted on the pool and surrounding marsh were Little Grebe, Whooper Swan and a large gathering of gulls but no luck with any "white wings". 

This was a great opportunity for DBC members to have a preview of the new reserve! Thank you to the DBC members who braved the elements and the RSPB staff for their expertise.