21. Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve

Index of Cleveland Scenes & Notes

re-edit 27/04/2023

The Saltholme RSPB bird reserve is near the north bank of the River Tees, North East England : Address: Saltholme RSPB, Seaton Carew Rd, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough TS2 1TU. The photographs give impressions of visiting this wildlife reserve and discovery park on a lovely late autumn day, November 27th 2013. My Olympus E500 camera very much liked the wildlife spectacle with its characteristic industrial backdrops (very appropriate as an ex chemistry teacher!), but, since my telephoto lens wasn't up to the job to get good images of the birds, my thanks go to good friends Andy and Mary for sharing their excellent and powerful binoculars and telescope!

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Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : The very stylish new information centre (field centre) by the Lake. There are an amazing number of different birds to be seen at any time of the year, wild flowers other wild animals depending on the time of the year

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : View of the Lake from just outside the information centre..

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve is located in Tees Valley, England. The reserve has a rich history in bird watching and is one of the most popular bird reserves in the region. The reserve was opened in 2009 and has since become a popular destination for bird enthusiasts.

The reserve was originally a landfill site that was transformed into a wetland habitat for birds. In 2005, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) acquired the site and began to develop it as a bird reserve. The RSPB worked with local partners to design and construct the reserve's facilities, which include bird hides, trails and visitor centers.

Today, Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve has a range of facilities for bird watchers, including multiple bird hides and viewing platforms spread across the reserve, which provide excellent vantage points for observing birds. The reserve also has a visitor center that includes a cafe, gift shop, and interactive displays that provide information about the wildlife and habitats found in the reserve.

Over the years, the reserve has attracted a wide range of bird species, including wading birds, ducks, geese, and raptors. The reserve is particularly known for its winter visitors, which include thousands of waterfowl that migrate from the Arctic to the reserve's wetlands.

The reserve's facilities and habitat management have been designed to provide an optimal bird watching experience for visitors. Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve is a popular destination for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts, and has become an important site for conserving and protecting the UK's bird population.

	Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : There are great views over The Lake from the top floor of the information centre, which is mainly occupied by the cafe. So, you can have a leisurely tea, coffee, snack or home-cooked meal whilst overlooking the Lake and its birdlife before, with the help of the guide map,  following the Lake walk, kestrel trail, wildflower walk or dragonfly path, and of course the many hides looking out across the many Saltholme pools. There is also a gift and optical equipment shop (e.g. telescopes & binoculars) and a separate viewing room kitted out with some binoculars. From the information centre you can then embark on a voyage of lots of discovery walks to appreciate great natural spectacles, panoramic views, adventure play area for children, sculptures and many acres of space to explore on foot or cycle.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve View across The lake from the cafe! Wherever you look, there are signs of the chemical industry on the horizon. RSPB Saltholme is noted for its breeding colony of common terns, brown hares boxing in spring, water voles and why not bring a picnic on one of the many walking routes - but PLEASE bring litter home as well as the delightful memory of the wildlife sights and sounds to bring back from Saltholme.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatter's tea party, carved in wood by The Lake.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : The Mad Hatter himself and Alice herself!

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : A view across The Lake to the cooling towers.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : A general view from the water from the Phil Stead hide.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : Telephoto shot of mallard ducks from the Phil Stead hide into the north-east reedbeds.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve :  Reflections on the private life of water hens on their nest in the seclusion of the reeds!

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : The north-east reed beds by the Phil Stead hide.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : View back across The Lake towards the information and viewing centre.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : One lone gull in the centre of the Lake?

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : Note quite, a few ducks and the first clear view of the chemical industry backdrop!

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : A few young swans in the Lake.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : A 'tree' snake sculpture by the lake.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : A fine pair of frog sculptures near the Lake, they really go with the pair of cooling towers!

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : General view from the Paddy's pool hide, from which was observed curlew, wigeon, canada goose, coot, herring gull, starling, lapwing, pochard, mute swan, great black headed gull. In the centre of Paddy's pool is narrow island.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : A flock of barnacle geese above the water of Paddy's pool, and from Paddy's pool hide you can see the Cleveland Hills and Roseberry Topping on the right.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : The Transporter Bridge over the River Tees and clouds over the Cleveland Hills creates a scene fit for any artist in the late afternoon light. Interesting angled cloud formations descending on the hills.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : The mole sculpture in wood.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : The Chris Beardshaw wildlife garden.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : First view of the West Saltholme Pool from the Saltholme Pools hide

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : In the background of the West Saltholme pool are the many chimneys and towers of the chemical industry.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : Neither the ducks nor the tanker driver notice each other!

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : Flocks of geese over the Back Saltholme pool and many ducks on the water. This time the Cleveland Hills provide the backdrop to the huge flocks of birds you see at Saltholme.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : A telephoto shot of the Transporter Bridge from across the Back Saltholme pool, taken from the Saltholme Pools hide, from which the following many ducks, seabirds etc, were observed gadwall, mute swan, pintail, shoveler, mallard, teal, wigeon, tufted duck, coot, moorhen, lapwing, curlew, redshank, starling, black headed gull, herring gull, carrion crow, magpie, wood pigeon, grayling goose, canada goose, pochard, great black headed gull, cormorant, shelduck, goldeneye, kestrel, dunlin and barnacle goose.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : The West Saltholme pool. As an ex chemistry teacher - 'retirement reflections on the chemical industry!' or 'reflections on retirement from chemistry!'.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : West Saltholme pool from the Saltholme pools hide. At least the white swan s stand out more than the electricity pylons!

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : The Transporter bridge in the late afternoon sunlight.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve : Last view across the Lake towards the Transporter Bridge.

Saltholme RSPB Bird Reserve :  Last view across The lake from the information centre, a real winterish feel in the late autumn sunset.

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