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Today’s dragonfly survey turned up lots of interesting damsels and dragons busy making next year’s generation.
We also spotted a Red-veined Darter on the South Pools. It’s an uncommon species that comes across here from Europe. This seems to be a good year for them.
You can pick up your free copy of the Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve MAP from Portishead Library.
We have had many requests for a printed map so here it is! It shows suggested routes around the nature reserve and what you might see. So we hope you find it both useful and informative.
We would like to thank Portishead Raft Race who very kindly paid for the printing of the map.😁
Come and say hello to us at the Portishead Raft Race this Sunday. We will have our popular nature table plus a "match the song to the bird" game. This is a great way to learn to identify bird song. You can also pick up a copy of our new map leaflet . . . hot off the press. The printing costs were very kindly donated by the Portishead Raft Race 2019
The first Dragonfly survey of the year was done on the reserve on Thursday. Quite a few Damselflies about, but not many dragons yet!
Oh, and one strange looking Shield Bug! (possibly Verlusea rhombea). The Dragonfly is a Broad-bodied Chaser, the Damselflies are a Blue-tailed and an Azure.
The uplifting power of cranes?
This was the amazing sunrise that greeted me as I walked by the nature reserve. A flight of Canada Geese completed the picture.
There was a roebuck snoozing in the North Pool field while out on the salt marsh several curlews, many shelducks, a number of teal, a pair of oystercatchers, a duo of gadwalls and a common sandpiper was the icing on the cake.
It was so worth getting up early!
It was a lovely afternoon for a wildlife count with plenty to see from swallows and martins to orange-tip and peacock butterflies. Plenty of birdsong too including the joyful song of a skylark drifting down from over the salt marsh.
Though this kestrel hunting across the reserve stole the show. His hour long search for food ended successfully and he flew off to the salt marsh with his prey.
What’s Happening
It’s July! – Find out what to look out for this month . . . flowers, butterflies and more. Our next wildlife counts are on 17 July (evening) and 21 July (morning). Click link below to find out more . . .
On this page (last updated 15 July):
What to look out for this month
JULY – what to look out for
July is the start of high summer. The flowers and insects are at their best and busiest, but many of the birds will have finished nesting. In July and August many birds are winding down and moulting into… Read More
Wildlife Counts
Both the Warden and the Friends carry out wildlife counts. You need to know what wildlife is visiting the reserve so you can manage the land effectively. These counts also feed into national wildlife records. There are at least two counts per month. You can read more about the Friends’ wildlife counts and download a spotting card on our Wildlife Monitoring page.
Next “Friends” count:
Anyone is welcome to join us but we recommend that you contact us to confirm time and meeting place contact us. Whatever your experience this is a great opportunity to learn about the wildlife.
Helping the warden
The reserve is managed by North Somerset Council. The Council employs a warden who is responsible for maintaining the nature reserve and with so much to do he needs volunteers. The meeting place is normally Wharf Lane car park (BS20 7TD). Tools, gloves and refreshments will be provided.
The next Volunteer Community Work Session – To be advised .
PS You can get in touch with the warden via their Facebook page at Portbury Wharf Community Volunteers.
New to website
Currently working on the Dragonfly and Damselfly section . . .
Dragonflies and Damselflies . . . (under construction)
Dragonfly Spotting Tips added July 2019
Dragonfly Survey added July 2019
Portbury Wharf’s Roe Deer added in April 2019
Recent Posts:
Looking for dragonflies
After a very quiet start to the season, last week’s survey of PWNR turned out to be one of our best. Some surprises included a Red-veined Darter (well done Dave) on the North Pools. It’s an uncommon species… Read More