BITTERN WATCH RSPB SALTHOLME

Thursday 14/013010. It is almost a year since the reserve opened and it has been a much better than expected success not only in the number of visitors to the center but in terms of the birds and the habitat enhancements achieved. The Common Tern nesting sites on the island off Paddy's hide is my own favourite and I'm sorry that I missed the work party when all the cockle shells were ferried onto the island, still with a successful year behind them the Terns will be back in the spring so I will try to get in on the site preparation for 2010. My picture shows Barbara Keville and Adam; fellow volunteers on the reserve. Adam has been down early to set up the solar powered camera over the Haverton Pool reed bed where a couple of Bitterns have made at least a temporary home. Yesterday one of them was well observed walking on the ice! and today Adam is in for a couple of cold hours having set up the camera system in the hope of capturing good pictures to be relayed back to the viewing screens at the visitor center. Barbara and I will be completing our security round in opening up the reserve before opening time at 10am, and Adam has been left strict instructions to notify us (radio) immediately if the shy and secretive Bittern comes out for a walk, that really would be something wonderful to see.