Contact us at
info@fpwnr.org
Friends of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve
Happy Halloween from the spooky silhouette of the Cormorant! 🎃🪶![]()
![]()
Often seen drying their wings, they have a very distinctive pose and even up close are a little other worldly! @davewhite60 @davewhite60photos ![]()
![]()
#Halloween #happyhalloween #birding #naturereserve #HalloweenFest #HalloweenSpecial
Part of PWNR, The Sanctuary, is not accessible to the public but makes up an important part of the conservation work being done at the reserve. ![]()
![]()
Last weekend @au_erithacus and other ringing licence holders caught 99 birds in a mornings ringing in the Sanctuary - including this fiesty Firecrest 🔥🧡![]()
![]()
All birds are ringed under BTO licence and regulations. ![]()
![]()
#birdringing #btobirds #naturereserve #Firecrest #britishbirds #ukbirds #birdwatching #somersetlife #northsomerset #portisheadlife #portishead ![]()
![]()
#
You might want to get a cuppa....![]()
![]()
Lots of you have noticed that there are some people still walking out on to the Salt Marsh, despite the posts (physical, not social media!) telling people to stay in the area between the posts and the top of the seawall. People have posted on here or on other local pages, as well as suggesting in person, that we need to do something more about it.![]()
![]()
Well, let me first say that the posts, but up by us at the behest of Natural England, have actually worked really well. The pathways that had been trampled into the salt marsh have healed over very well, although they still have some way to go, and we reckon that we have been successful in getting the vast majority of people to stay out of this Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). ![]()
![]()
But, you are right, there is apparently more to be done and clearly some people do not respond well to a kind word and an explanation of the damage they contribute to and the fragility /importance of the salt marsh. ![]()
![]()
But in fairness to The Friends of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve, you do have to realise that we don’t have any remit, or authority to actually bar people from what is actually a legally protected area. Having said that, unauthorised entry into a SSSI is an offence and you could end up in court. Likewise with removing wildlife from a SSSI, and here I address very specifically the people who of late have been struggling down the marsh with masses of fishing kit, day or night, light or dark to fish. Not only is fishing illegal in a SSSI, it is downright dangerous in this particular one!![]()
![]()
We don’t want to ”get heavy”’ about this, and we do not want to escalate our responses by involving either Local or National Agencies that do have the authority to impose what could be significant penalties on offenders, so can we please make the following statements -![]()
![]()
No one is allowed to go beyond the line defined by the posts at the base of the sea wall![]()
![]()
Dogs are not allowed to roam free beyond the post line. ![]()
![]()
You may not see it, but they do disturb the wildlife that lives there.![]()
![]()
Fishing is not allowed anywhere on the Nature Reserve, the Ecology Park or the Salt Marsh.![]()
![]()
Yes, this does actually apply to you, not to just everyone else! ![]()
![]()
It would be a shame if the actions of a few people spoilt things for everyone else. Please feel free to share this across any local groups you may belong to. ![]()
![]()
Thank you
I could hear the Curlew making a lot of noise this morning and then realised why! Such a shame.
We’re lucky with the nature reserve to be close to the estuary and have so much bird life. As the bird migration begins, with our summer visitors leaving (like this common whitethroat) and the winter species arriving, we can expect to see some new faces at the pools!![]()
![]()
As always let us know what you see ☺️![]()
![]()
📸 Photo by @davewhite60 ![]()
![]()
#birdwatching #britishbirds #ukbirding #birdmigration #bristolbirds
What have you spotted from the hides recently? ![]()
![]()
Exciting to hear that a red-backed shrike made an appearance today! ![]()
![]()
#naturereserve #getintonature #birdwatching #birdhides #ukbritishbirds
School's back but you’ve still got little ones at home? ![]()
![]()
The Wilbur trail at the nature reserve is a great way to spend a morning. See if you can spot all 12 Wilbur water voles! 🕵🏻🐭![]()
![]()
Has anyone done the trail already and found all 12? ![]()
![]()
#portishead #naturereserve #daysoutforfamilies #kidsdayout #naturetoddlers #forestschool
Many thanks to Mia, the PWNR warden for this excellent video of roe deer by the South Hide taken last week. The deer in full shot has clearly got their eye on Mia and is proabably suggesting that she wants her own space! Its not often that you see them in such full voice, so there may have been a youngster in the area, as well as the one in the background (you have to spot it's ears flicking!
Donate
You can donate via our JustGiving charity page, or if you fancy a flutter, you can support us via the North Somerset Lottery. Instructions for both options are below.
Donate via our JustGiving campaign page
What your donation could buy
£5 could buy 100 Monthly Spotting Cards
£10 could buy 100 Nature Reserve Maps
£25 could go towards protective measures for the salt marsh (posts and temporary signs)
£50 could go towards a camera post for monitoring our coastline
£100 could buy a new graphics square for the Wetlands Trail
You can donate any amount . . . even £1 or £2 can make a difference!
Donate via the North Somerset Lottery
Buy a Lottery Ticket from the North Somerset Lottery which supports local causes. This is a weekly lottery and tickets cost £1 of which 50p will come to us and 10p will go to another local charitable cause. This button will take you to our North Somerset Lottery page:
Some of what your donations buy:
The next project in the pipeline . . .
Static photo posts overlooking Portbury Wharf Salt Marsh. This is a citizen science project to record the changes (expansion or erosion) of our salt marshes and coastline. Anyone with a mobile phone camera will be able to take a photo and upload it to create a record of changes over time. We plan to site our first post by Portishead Pier overlooking Portbury Wharf Salt Marsh.
Donation Links on this page: