Contact us at
info@fpwnr.org
Facebook Latest
The wildfowl on the South Pools displayed much phrenetic activity during April 2019. You might recall that a pair of Canada Geese chose the pools as their nesting site and became very possessive of the area. Consequently, they challenged any intruders, irrespective of size, who strayed anywhere remotely near to their nest. This made for interesting birdwatching and potential photo opportunities, as Shelduck, Gadwall, other Canada Geese, a Heron and even Mute Swans were set upon by the geese and scattered around the pools. I was very much looking forward to watching a repeat of the spectacle this April, but staying at home is a current imperative at this dreadful time. I have included a few images from last April’s display, which might well be repeating itself this year, albeit less well observed.
for those of you struggling to keep one child occupied think of this lady who has 13 to watch out for. Ps - dont worry the pic was taken 12 months ago.
We have received an update from the Hinkley Connection Team re the continuation of work at Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve.
Next week they will be working on the bellmouths on Sheepway and will continue with preparations for the temporary haul road. You can read more about the work and the extra safety measures being taken during the COVID-19 pandemic at www.portburywharfnaturereserve.co.uk/hinkley-connection-update-april-2020/
Hinkley Connection Update April 2020 - Friends of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve
www.portburywharfnaturereserve.co.uk
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 MoreSadly we cant really spend much time at the Reserve at the moment and so you may enjoy this little video looking back at February.
You will see number of birds in the clip at the end - see if you can identify them:
Gadwall
Lapwing
Little Egret
Blackbird,
Male stone chat
Female stonechat
Grebe- still in winter coat
Greylay Goose
Shoveller
Canade Goose
Tufted Duck
Seagull
Song Thrush
Oyster Catcher
Meadow Pippet
youtu.be/QBqb-Mzw668
February 2020 at Portbury Wharf
youtu.be
A Compilation of short clips from Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve. My verbal introduction stops at about 2.15 if you would rather go straight to the action.This North Pool roe buck looks nice and warm wrapped up in his thick winter coat! His new antlers are still growing under that soft velvet.
Did you know deer hair is hollow? So each hair holds warm air close to the body . . . nature's insulation.🙂
One of the most popular questions asked - is how to find and see snipe? They are much smaller birds than people realise and you really have to look hard to find them. The best place in my experience is the south pool and at the moment they seem to like a piece of ground which sticks out on the right hand side of the pool as you look out of the hide - just before the muddy bank. There is a video clip here of 5 snipe from yesterday ( you will need to study hard to see all of them) and they will probably keep coming back to this spot for a while yet. I hope that you find them :https://youtu.be/PJdXGcbG_X0
Snipe at the South Pool, Portbury Wharf Reserve
youtu.be
Unless you look hard you can miss these little birdsIt is not only the blackthorn blossom to look out for around the North Pool. This roe buck and doe were looking at me, looking at them.
As pretty as a picture . . . did you know blackthorn flowers have both male and female reproductive parts (hermaphrodite)?
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
Recent Posts
Be safe, keep our wildlife safe and follow the Countryside Code