Salt Marsh Winter

Salt Marsh Winter at Portbury Wharf

The salt marsh winter is exciting and busy. It is perhaps the most active time on the salt marsh in terms of wildlife because 1000s of birds migrate here. In fact this estuary is one of the UK’s most important areas for winter birds many of which are at risk.

Our winters can be cold but not as cold as Greenland Iceland and Northern Europe. So many birds that nest and breed up north in the summer, head south to our warmer winters. In spring when the arctic temperatures rise and the light increases they will fly back north to nest.

Some birds come in their thousands like the flings of dunlin, others in their hundreds or less. It is a sad fact that the populations of many of these birds have plummeted over recent decades. So it is important that we help them survive the winter by giving them space to feed and rest.

So Portbury Wharf is a very important area for wintering wildfowl. Some wading birds will keep mainly to the estuary edge and salt marsh where they can find food in the mud at low tide. Others will be happy on the pools in the nature reserve. But it is not just water birds that come here. In the hedgerows look out for the winter thrushes like fieldfares and redwings who will be searching for juicy berries.

Birds of conservation concern that visit the salt marsh

There are 30 birds which you might see on the salt marsh in winter that are either Red listed (at highest risk) or amber listed. Some of these are mainly migratory ie you will only see them in winter or you will see a lot more of them. For instance you may see a few curlews all year round but you may see over 50 together in winter.

Image	Name	Conservation Status
	Black-headed Gull	AMBER
	Black-tailed Godwit**±	RED
	Common Sandpiper	AMBER
	Common Snipe±	AMBER
	Curlew**± This bird is the most threatened of all our birds. Read more	RED
	Dunlin**± Read more	AMBER
	Gadwall	AMBER
	Grey Wagtail**	RED
	Herring Gull	RED
	Jack Snipe±	AMBER
	Kestrel	AMBER
	Kingfisher	AMBER
	Lapwing±	RED
	Lesser Black-backed Gull	AMBER
	Linnet	RED
	Mallard	AMBER
	Merlin**	RED
	Mute Swan	AMBER
	Oystercatcher	AMBER
	Redshank	AMBER
	Reed Bunting	AMBER
	Ringed Plover	RED
	Shelduck	AMBER
	Short-eared Owl**	AMBER
	Shoveler±	AMBER
	Skylark	RED
	Starling	RED
	Teal±	AMBER
	Wigeon±	AMBER

** these are also “passage” birds ie on their way through in spring and summer

±mainly winter migrants

How can we help the birds at Portbury Wharf?

As you can see many of the birds that fly incredible distances to spend the winter with us are now endangered. Some may even be nearing extinction. While they are here the birds on the nature reserve’s pools should be safe, at least from human disturbance.

Special care for birds on the salt marsh

As the salt marsh is such a popular area, birds here are not as safe as those on the reserve. So it is important that we share the area with our wildlife and give them plenty of space so they can get enough food and rest to survive the winter.  So if you are enjoying a walk by the salt marsh then keeping close to the sea wall (dogs too) will ensure they are not driven off. 

There is a biodiversity as well as a climate crisis so we can all help the wildlife on our doorstep.

See our salt marsh index for fascinating salt marsh facts