Contact us at
info@fpwnr.org
Friends of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve
There has been discussion in a few places recently showing concern for the lack of local swans. We had one breeding pair on the reserve this year and they laid low for a whole variety of reasons. They did however successfully fledge 5 young which have now been packed off to find their own place in the world
Here is a fantastic film from Curlew Action which is so well worth 6 minutes of your time! A poignant quote from the film . . . "We have an urgent decision to make. If we want the winter air filled with the calls of water birds and the curlew’s song to inspire us into the future, we have to cherish the rich coastlines of Britain." ![]()
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Curlews can live for up to 30 years but research shows that they have not been breeding successfully for a long time. So when the older birds die, how many will be left? Organisations from Curlew Action to the WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre and RSPB Love Nature are all working hard to save them. ![]()
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We can play our part by cherishing Portbury Wharf's coast and wetland reserve and giving our curlews and winter birds the space and peace they need to survive.
The Story of Britain's Curlews - Winter
youtube.com
Narration and original music by David Gray, this short film looks at the plight of Britain's curlews as they fight to survive during the winter months.Produc...
Say hello to Bailie, our first wildlife-protecting Dog Ranger of the month!![]()
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There is no doubt that Portbury Wharf is a great place to walk. That is why many of us come here with our four-legged friends. However, dogs get a bad press when it comes to wildlife disturbance. Research shows that well over 50% of coastal bird disturbance involves dogs, particularly loose dogs. But dogs are only doing what comes naturally and need our help to do the right thing. So we want to celebrate the many Portbury Wharf dogs that are keeping our wildlife safe. ![]()
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Your dog can become a Dog Ranger by taking 4 simple pledges:![]()
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🐾 I will keep to the paths on the nature reserve![]()
🐾 I will stay by the sea wall on the salt marsh![]()
🐾 I won’t swim in the pools and rhynes![]()
🐾 I won’t chase the wildlife![]()
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These pledges will make a huge difference to the survival of some of our most endangered creatures. . . . plus there are perks for Dog Rangers too! ![]()
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Find out more and sign up to the Dog Ranger club on our website www.portburywharfnaturereserve.co.uk/dog-rangers/![]()
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Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve Bristol Barkers Community
Wharf Lane - Temporary Closure on December 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9*ADVANCE NOTICE - FOOTPATH CLOSURE*![]()
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As part of the ongoing Hinkley Connection Project to provide low-carbon energy to the South West and removal of the existing overhead power lines, contractors will be working to remove vegetation in a section along the Wharf Lane Public Right Of Way. As such, the footpath will be closed to all public access between the hours of 9am and 3:30pm on 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 December 2020 to allow for the work to be carried out safely. All other access routes will remain open.![]()
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Under the supervision of ecologists, the Reserve Warden and North Somerset Council officers, this vegetation will be removed to prevent wildlife becoming trapped, disturbed or injured during the future construction works. Part of the clearance work will go on to provide important additional habitat for Water Vole who live and breed in the rhynes at Portbury Wharf and on the neighbouring Port Of Bristol land.![]()
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We apologise for any inconvenience during this time.![]()
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Water Vole Photo - Peter G Trimming
We are lucky to have some amazing winter birds come to stay at Portbury Wharf. Pochard, snipe, teal and others have already been seen on the reserve. While on the estuary and salt marsh there are growing numbers of curlew, wigeon and dunlin. To survive the winter they need plenty of space to feed and rest undisturbed. ![]()
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So to spread the love for our migrating birds, most of which are endangered, we created this poster. If we can protect nature it will still be here for our children and our children’s children.![]()
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PS Sadly the poster, which was on the railings by the salt marsh, has gone missing again!😞
It is great to wander round with binoculars to see if you can find the many snipe hiding in the vegetation surrounding the pools or the birds picking off the berries from the trees. This little ball of fluff can be found at the moment - a Goldcrest - and he lives in the bushes alongside the main path that people walk every day . He is such a tiny little chap as you can see when you campare him with the twigs that he is sitting on
Well the high tides this week have certainly brought about massive changes at the North Pool today, On Monday we had about 60 birds enjoying the peace and quiet but today a swarm of about 1500 Dunlin dropped in and started their murmurations that were so popular last year. There have been over a hundred wigeon, many teal and amongst the Canada Geese was this chap - a Bar-headed goose . a brief video is to follow
A couple of Pochard on the north pool - fairly rare visitors these days and on the red list in terms of conservation priority . you will see a couple of lapwing behind on the island itself
As part of the ongoing work of upgrading the pylons we have received the following update from the Hinkley Connection Team. Please note the temporary closure of sections of the footpath on Wharf Lane from Monday 2 November to Friday 6 November.![]()
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Update from the Hinkley Connection Team:![]()
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From April next year, Western Power Distribution will start work to install new underground cables and remove the pylons in the north of the reserve. In recent months, WPD has been carrying out ecological surveys and putting measures in place to reduce disruption to local wildlife. To stop protected species from entering construction areas, we need to manage the vegetation in each area. From Monday 2 November, we need to remove vegetation along a section of the footpath on Wharf Lane.![]()
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To keep everyone safe during this work, a section of the footpath will be closed from 2 to 6 November, between 9.00am and 3.30pm each day. We’re aware this path is well used and we’re working to reopen it as soon as possible.
Nice to see a Curlew today. Plus a few Red Shank and Dunlin on the mudflats at the start of the Wharf. A handful of Lapwing on North Pool and three or four Stonechat over by the Broadwalk conservation area.
Portbury Wharf’s Wildlife
Portbury Wharf’s wildlife is very varied because wildlife loves water and there is certainly a lot of that around here. This is a coastal reserve with a series of freshwater ponds and a network of water filled ditches (rhynes).
All of this water makes it an ideal home for birds, water voles, amphibians, dragonflies and so much more.
In the summer warblers nest in the reeds while swifts, swallows, and house martins wheel over the ponds and oystercatchers strut their stuff on the island. In the winter hundreds of migrating wading birds and ducks arrive here.
Because it is only just a few wing beats from the Severn Estuary it is a safe haven for wildfowl coming from the channel. Keep a look out as sometimes even rarities come to visit the reserve adding to Portbury Wharf’s wildlife.
Mammals
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Birds
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Orchids and other plants
Dragonflies and Damselflies
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Amphibians (coming soon)
Butterflies (coming soon)
Wildlife Posts
How to help our spring wildlife
It’s spring and lots of our wildlife is beginning to breed. At this important time we can all do two easy things to help the wildlife here; keep to the paths and keep our dogs on leads. These… Read More
Murmuring starlings or whispering dunlins?
It was twilight. The stars had faded away but it was not yet sunrise when hundreds of pairs of wings purred past my shoulder. What were they? Where had they come from and where were they going? I… Read More
Roe Deer Antlers
Roe deer antlers regrow each year Only the male roe deer have antlers. Each year, in late autumn they shed their antlers and grow new ones. It doesn’t take long, after casting off the old ones, before these… Read More
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Keeping water voles safe
Keeping water voles safe at Portbury Wharf is very important. So the warden and his Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve Volunteers have been busy repairing the hurdles alongside the rhynes. You may have noticed them along Water Vole Lane,… Read More
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Gordano Valley Lapwings
This morning at sunrise I watched 18 lapwing lift off from the North Pool. Once upon a time you would have seen flocks of a hundred strong. Sadly over the last 20 or so years, numbers have fallen… Read More
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January – What to look out for
Happy New Year! Although it is a shiny new start to the year, sadly we are in another lockdown . . . . . . but our winter birds are still flying free along our coast and on… Read More
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December – What to look out for
IT’S DECEMBER! December is the month of CHRISTMAS and that makes it hard to avoid references to mistletoe, robins, holly and ivy! Let’s learn more about these Christmas symbols which you might spot on a walk around the… Read More
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NOVEMBER – What to look out for
Welcome to November! The clocks have gone back, so dusk comes early in November. The first frosts have arrived and the trees are rapidly losing their leaves….but it’s a good time for wildlife spotting. Winter visitors are streaming… Read More
OCTOBER – What to look out for
Welcome to October! We are well into the autumn and this can be a lovely time of year with lots going on. Birds While the summer birds have gone south to find warmer climates, the winter birds are… Read More
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SEPTEMBER – What to look out for
September is here! By the meteorological calendar, the first day of autumn begins on 1 September and ends on 30 November. So autumn is officially here. The weather may be sunny and warm at times, but nature is… Read More
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AUGUST – What to look out for
Whilst for us August is the height of summer, for much of our wildlife it’s almost the beginning of autumn. The breeding season’s over, lots of plants are ripe with fruit and some bird species are even starting… Read More
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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
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JUNE – what to look out for
June is the month when the meadows and verges are full of flowers and the breeding season for the birds is in full swing. The emergence of butterflies, damselflies and dragonflies, which has been a bit slow in… Read More
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MAY – what to look out for
Listen out for cuckoos in May. Cuckoos fly all the way here from Africa and beyond to lay their eggs in other birds’ nests. Did you know it is only the male bird that calls “cuckoo”? A cuckoo… Read More
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March and April – what to look out for
While some winter birds are yet to fly back north to their nesting sites, spring fever is definitely on its way. March and April is such an exciting time of year with plenty of spring wildlife to look… Read More