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it is a very quiet time for birds at the moment but i posted a brief video yesterday on my hunt for the cettis - which was all taken at Portbury wharf -https://youtu.be/3LbGYt8gmV0
youtu.be
The Cettis Warbler is the tiniest of birds and whilst its call announces its presence to the world - it is very difficult to photograph or video - simply bec...Juvenile Oystercatcher feeding heavily on the mudflats next to the Peir today.
Why can't people have more sense?
Iain, the reserve warden, has to spend a lot of time and money clearing up mess and repairing vandalism in the hides. Sadly, much of this is caused by young people in the evenings.
But it is not just the young who do stupid, irresponsible things. During the recent Dragonfly survey we were surprised to see a man (in his 50s?) crawling out of the ditch onto the main reserve track. He had scratches on his arms from the barbed wire and blackthorns. Concerned, we asked him if he was OK. "We just got a bit lost" was the reply.
Behind him, squatting in the ditch, was another man and the two of them were trying to drag two bicycles through a thick hedge, water-filled ditch and barbed-wire fence!
I assume that they had cycled down Sheepway Lane on the Docks land, found themselves in the fields and instead of cycling back to Sheepway had forced a way through where none existed, causing damage to themselves, the hedge and the fence.
Some people are a danger to themselves and the countryside!
Giles Morris
On Friday (31 July) we did our latest Dragonfly survey on the reserve and found a good mix of species. I've posted a few photos of some we saw.
Warm, sunny days are best for dragonfly spotting. But Friday was so hot that most of the dragons were hyperactive - belting around like "blue-a***d flies" (which I suppose some of them are!) and this made identification a bit harder.
Some of the human visitors were behaving a bit oddly too, but more of that in another post...
Giles Morris
On the Reserve today. Broad Bodied Chaser, Ruddy Darter, and a Blue Emperor laying eggs.
There has been a wave of vandalism on the reserve recently so please contact the police on 101 if you see any anti-social behaviour . . .
. . . a message from the warden "Sadly over recent weeks there has been a noticeable spike in incidents of anti-social behaviour across the parks and open spaces across North Somerset, including Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve. The hides at the reserve, which are open again for the benefit of all visitors, have unfortunately been targets for criminal damage. The police are aware of the ongoing incidents and will be stepping up the onsite patrols in addition to the site Warden and NSC Community Safety Officers, as well as following up on some leads.
If you have any information regarding the recent incidents, or if you see anything untoward while at the reserve, please contact the police on 101 at the earliest opportunity."
This is a lovely clip of a curlew's nest so sit back for 5 minutes and enjoy.
We still see curlews at Portbury Wharf but sadly they are in trouble. Not enough chicks are surviving to sustain the population. It is a risky business nesting on the ground where both eggs and chicks are vulnerable. This film was recorded for @CurlewCountry who are running a curlew recovery project while Curlew Action are campaigning to protect curlews from extinction.
Curlew 2020 - The Final 24 Hours
www.youtube.com
A lot happens on a Curlew nest in 24 hours. From the first pip of an egg to fledging. It all happens in just one day. Like all birds that nest on the ground,...On Wednesday 1 July the footpath/bridleway between Wharf Lane and Sheepway will be closed for one day.
FAQs
FAQs about the pylon work at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve
These are some of the questions which we have been asked about the pylon work taking place on the nature reserve.
We will answer questions to the best of our knowledge based on information we have received. However, for a definitive answer please contact the Hinkley Connection Team (HCT) directly at www.hinkleyconnection.co.uk. You can also read the latest briefings from HCT at the bottom of this page.
What will happen to our reserve when a temporary road is driven through it by the Hinkley work? Vital habitats will be destroyed for ever?
Answer: The Hinkley line is not going to destroy the reserve!The temporary road crosses the rough grazing fields, avoiding the pools and newt ponds. The most serious damage will be the removal of sections of hedgerows. These will be replaced, but will take some years to recover.
The work to replace the pylons and put in new lines will cause several years of disturbance and disruption, but the reserve will recover in the long term. There are lots of different threats to the future of the reserve and its wildlife, the Hinkley line is a temporary one and not as serious as many others.
At a meeting in the Folk Hall last year representatives from the Hinkley Point Connection Team addressed the public. They said that work would stop during the breeding season.
Answer: National Grid have been advised by Natural England that the biggest threat is to the wintering wildfowl, many of which are on the red and amber lists of birds under threat. They migrate to the reserve in the autumn and leave again in the spring. The Hinkley Connection Team have confirmed in writing that there will be no construction between September and April to minimise any effects on wintering birds.See Hinkley Connection Project at PWNR where other wildlife mitigation measures are outlined for Cetti’s Warblers, Barn Owls, Great Crested Newts, Water Voles and Bats.
What access to the reserve will the public have once work has started?
Answer: The public paths should remain open during the construction work. However, they might be temporarily closed for safety reasons when heavy machinery is being moved around the site.
However we have been advised that the car park at the Sheepway bridge will be closed until 2025. Please see the February 2020 Hinkley Connection briefing for more information about this.
There are low plastic fences at floor level in the fields, what are they for?
Related pages
Hinkley Connection Project at PWNR
Related posts
Hinkley Connection Update April 2020
This update relates to the continuation of work at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve and the extra safety measures being taken during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is a briefing we have received from the Community Relations Team of the… Read More
Hinkley Connection Update February 2020
This update relates to closures and restrictions at Sheepway. This is a briefing we have received from the Community Relations Team of the National Grid Hinkley Connection Project. We are posting these briefings so you are kept up… Read More
Hinkley Connection Update September 2019
This update relates to the measures being taken to protect the environment and ecology of the reserve. This is a briefing we have received from the Community Relations Team of the National Grid Hinkley Connection Project. We are… Read More
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