Contact us at
info@fpwnr.org
Friends of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve
What can you spot on the reserve?
Try out our MONTHLY ID cards and see how many species you can tick off
Nature Reserve
Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve This is a 150 acre nature reserve on the edge of the Severn Estuary between Portishead and Royal Portbury Dock. It was in 2008 that Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve was first conceived to offset… Read More
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What’s Happening
Welcome to May 2022! As I write this on 1st May it is raining, the first rain we have seen for a while and expect the plants, trees and wildlife will be glad of it. This is the… Read More
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Wildlife Monitoring
Wildlife monitoring plays an important part in conservation. If you know what is around, and what isn’t, you can make the right choices in land management. So we are counting the wildlife here at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve…. Read More
Learn MorePortbury Wharf Wetland
Wetlands are very important places and Portbury Wharf is no exception
Watch our slide show to see why:
For more facts about wetlands and World Wetlands Day visit www.worldwetlandsday.org
It's a great day for a walk, lots of birds singing across the reserve, hawthorn trees filling the air with the heady fragrance of their blossom and lots of Queen Ann's Lace in flower. There are over 50 UK species in the apiaceae (carrot) family, also known as umbelliferae, characterised by alternate leaves, often finely divided, sheathing bases to the leaf stalks, and umbrella-like flower clusters so keep an eye on them as they give way to their successors during the summer.![]()
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I hope you enjoy your walk today!
Lots of new Dog Rangers this month, we've already signed three up in the last 10 days! You are all very welcome, and I look forward to meeting you all out on the trails across our wonderful Reserve.
The Whimbrel are back in town . . . or more specifically on our coast!![]()
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They are only here long enough to fuel up for the final leg of the journey from Africa to north Scotland. So they are searching for worms, crabs and molluscs on the salt marshes and in between the rocks before flying north to nest. ![]()
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These are one of the rarer birds so we are very lucky that our bit of coastline is one of their stop-overs!
Our Dog Rangers Group is intended to acknowledge and to encourage dogs and their owners who promise to behave in a way that wont cause damage to the reserve or its wildlife. One of the benefits of being a Dog Ranger, second only to the fame and admiration such well behaved, responsible dogs attract, is that each quarter we have a Prize Draw. Last month we were delighted when Pets at Home offered to sponsor our Prize Draw, and we really do thank them for our support. ![]()
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So this month is our first Draw since then and, under conditions that would make the National Lottery jealous, we drew out the name of our first winner! (DRUM ROLL!) Congratulations to Rocco, who wins a £20 voucher to spend on Toys and Treats at Pets at Home in Portishead.![]()
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It was lovely to meet Rocco and Matt and Cherie (who he looks after) and to award him his prize, suffice to say, he seems a quite sensible dog who is not going to let this win change his lifestyle too much!
Lovely to read Mia's introduction, and to see Gus! Gus looks like a gentle giant, but I bet he'll be keen to protect Mia! On the subject of dogs, it's the first day of a new month so we have a new Dog Ranger of the Month. This month it is Freddie's turn in the spotlight. I "caught up" with Freddie who tells me he is a fox red Labrador who loves walking on the reserve because, “There’s lots of exciting smells for me. I don’t like water, so there’s no chance of me going in any ponds!“ ![]()
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If you would like your four legged companion to join Freddie, keep an eye our for the Dog Ranger Posters around the Marina, The Salt Marsh and, of course, the Reserve!
We are delighted to welcome Mia, the new warden at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve. 😀![]()
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Some of you may have already met Mia out and about on the nature reserve. However, for those who have not yet had that pleasure Mia has written a few words to introduce herself . . . ![]()
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"Hi my name is Mia and I am the new warden at Portbury Wharf. Some of you may have seen my face around at the reserve and I look forward to meeting more of you when I am out and about. I am passionate about Wildlife, recently graduating from university where I studied Wildlife Conservation and Countryside Management. ![]()
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In my spare time I volunteer at a local hedgehog rescue and do their community talks. I also enjoy adventures with my dog Gus who won’t be coming to work with me but I’m sure will be a regular visitor as he is well behaved and a worthy dog ranger. ![]()
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I am excited about working at Portbury Wharf, seeing all of the incredible species that the site has to offer and learning how we can manage the habitats, encouraging the wildlife to thrive! I will be continuing with the volunteer sessions at the reserve, welcoming any new faces who would like to join!"
Thanks to Elliot Cassley for these fantastic photos of the Great White Egret spotted on the reserve last week. A couple of Little Egrets were also seen. ![]()
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Great White Egrets are the same size as a heron with black feet and a yellow beak (though the beak turns mainly black in breeding birds). ![]()
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Little Egrets are much smaller, as the name suggests, with yellow feet (not black) and they always have a black beak. ![]()
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The Great White Egret is not nearly as common as the Little Egret and has a conservation status of amber. ![]()
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Did you know that the Somerset Levels were home to the UK’s first breeding pair of Great White Egrets in 2012? Now several pairs breed in the UK. Thanks to the The Wildlife Trusts for that information.
Looking for an activity for the Easter Holidays?![]()
****The APRIL ID cards are OUT!****![]()
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Some of this month's species are a bit tricky to find, particularly the cuckoo, water vole and water rail, so start off by looking for the Shelduck which is easier to spot. These large ducks can be seen on the reserve pools as well as in the estuary.![]()
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You can find the April ID cards in the boxes on the reserve (at Wharf Lane car park and the end of the path from the marina). All the available ID cards are downloadable from our website www.portburywharfnaturereserve.co.uk/spot/.![]()
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Portishead Parent
Spot - Friends of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve
www.portburywharfnaturereserve.co.uk
Every month there is something to spot on the nature reserve. You can print out these spotting cards and take them with you whenever you go to
Many thanks to Ian and his owners for their sterling service as March's Dog Ranger of the Month. Ian, I hope you enjoyed the publicity! So, from tomorrow morning we have a new Dog Ranger of the Month; Please say hello to Sparky if you see him around the reserve. Sparky is about 5 years old now and has been a Dog Ranger for just over a year. You can sign your own four legged friend up as a Dog Ranger who is willing (both of you!) to stick by our 5 pledges! Scan the QR code in the attached poster and you can go straight to our sign up page.