Visitors to RSPB Saltholme, the popular nature reserve near Stockton-on-Tees, are enjoying warm comfortable views of a colony of common seals thanks to a new wildlife camera system.
The wildlife camera system has been installed through the River Tees Rediscovered Landscape Partnership, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players and awarded through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with match funding and support from Teesside Environmental Trust, gives visitors the chance to see Greatham Creek’s resident seals from the reserve’s visitor centre almost a mile away.
Aimée Lee, Visitor Experience Manager at Saltholme said: “The camera system is a fantastic addition to RSPB Saltholme; the seals are a real favourite with visitors and any opportunity to see them is always a welcome one.”
The system includes a second camera mounted on the visitor centre looking out over the reserve’s main lake. In the summer the lake is alive with the sights and sounds of nesting common tern, black headed gull and sand martin. The camera system allows close up views of these birds as they nest giving amazing views of newly hatched chicks.
Aimée added: The funding provided by River Tees Rediscovered has allowed us to showcase an amazing wildlife spectacle here in the Tees estuary and allows our visitors to get closer to nature than ever before.”
RSPB Saltholme is open from 9.30am until 4pm throughout the winter. Entry is £5 per car, free for RSPB members. For further information and to keep up to date with what’s happening at RSPB Saltholme, visit rspb.org.uk/saltholme or follow the reserve team on Facebook or Twitter.
