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Friends of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve
Ahh another sign of spring on the reserve! Thanks David HorlickColt's-foot flowers starting to show at Portbury Wharf now. Yellow seems to be a popular colour for early signs of Spring.
Portishead's salt marshes are such important habitats that we thought they deserved their very own Facebook and Instagram pages. So as well as following the wildlife of the nature reserve on this page you can also see glimpses and even art from Portishead's salt marshes on our sister page Portishead Salt Marshes.![]()
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These fragile ecosystems need to be cherished and protected so the more people who know about them the better.
Look out for greenfinches on the reserve. The scientific name is Chloris Chloris which means greenish-yellow. They have a fizzy, wheezing call which you can hear here: www.xeno-canto.org/578272.
Temporary footpath closures tomorrow and Wednesday . . . also a couple of days in March.ADVANCE NOTCE - TEMPORARY FOOTPATH CLOSURE![]()
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On 24 and 25 February and 4 and 5 March, contractors will be carrying out some essential works to the banks adjacent to the Portishead substation entrance to the reserve. Unfortunately this means for these few days, access to this area will be restricted during daylight hours.
Our frogs are loving this warmer, wetter weather and it's been a busy night for some!🐸![]()
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Frogs don't just like ponds . . . they have made themselves at home in this shallow plant tray full of rain water.
Thank you to all the wildlife friendly dogs that bring their handlers out for a walk on the reserve and salt marsh. ![]()
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Nolly the Tibetan Terrier loves walking here and keeps to the paths. She has taken the pledge to protect the wildlife and is Dog Ranger of the month.![]()
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"I have realised that when my handlers stop to gaze into the distance along the sea wall there is usually a nice opportunity to sit and stare too." (Her handler helped her write this.)![]()
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If your four legged friend wants to take the pledge too, visit www.portburywharfnaturereserve.co.uk/dog-rangers/
well the birdlife on the reserve is picking up and some of the gulls are already taking on their summer plumages. One of our new visitors over the last couple of weeks has been a grey wagtail. Despite its name the bird has quite a lot of yellow on it and about 10 years ago it was quite a regular visitor . Now it is on the RSPB endangered red list and this is our first such visitor for quite a while . So if you are walking round - keep your eyes open as he/she tends to like the shallow ditches.
🐸🐸🐸 Send us your sightings of frogspawn 🐸🐸🐸![]()
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Now its is milder the frogs are getting frisky again. Much of the early forgspawn froze over recent days so more is needed. . . . have you seen any yet in a pond near you? ![]()
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Let us know by commenting when and where you see frogspawn. Maybe add a photo too. We can track where our frogs are most active over the coming weeks. 🐸
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Last Updated: February 2, 2021 by fpwnr
February – What to look out for
Look out for FROGS and TOADS!
This is their mating time and they are on the move. February and March is the time when we are most likely to see them as large numbers converge on their breeding ponds. As Portbury Wharf is a wetland area with plenty of lovely watery places many frogs, toads and newts will be heading our way.
They have spent the winter in hedges, muddy ditches, under stones, plant pots or hunkered down under compost heaps. The rising temperature triggers the breeding season.
Frogs become increasingly active in garden ponds just before the migration begins, a sure sign that movement is imminent. I can hear frogs croaking and frolicking in my pond as I type this! If weather conditions are favourable (mild, damp evenings) the onset of migration is sudden. They will begin, en masse, to head to their breeding ponds.
They take the quickest route along ancestral pathways to the pond were they spawned. This often brings them into conflict with cars, cyclists and pedestrians.
Usually you can join Portishead Toad Patrol to help them cross the Village Quarter and The Vale safely. However this year, unfortunately COVID-19 has put paid to that but hopefully with less traffic during the lockdown they will be okay.
Winter birds are still here
The winter birds are still around so take a look at what you might expect to see on our Winter Birds page. They will be going back north to nest soon so see them while you still can!
See if you can spot Dunlin and Wigeon on the North Pool or out on the estuary . . .
. . . or maybe you will hear the beautiful warbling call of a curlew or two.
Category: what to look for
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