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There can be rich pickings for the heron on the salt marsh, especially on a big tide. As the water rises, small mammals like voles race to reach dry land. So the heron stands guard ready to intercept.
*** SEASONAL TRACK TEMPORARILY CLOSED***
Due to the recent heavy rain the muddy Seasonal Track has become waterlogged so is temporarily closed. This is the track which runs around the edge of the South Pool field shown as a dotted line on this map.
The North Pool was honoured earlier today to receive a visit from this Great White Egret. Whilst much of the time was spent hiding behind high reeds , we got one quick glimpse and for about 10 seconds he /she landed in front of the North Pool Hide before heading into deepest Somerset
What plant do these belong to?
You probably see this plant every day as you walk past gardens, woods and along the paths on the reserve. Everyone knows this plant but nobody really notices it. Yet it is an important evergreen ecosystem.
It provides nesting sites and shelter for insects, birds and even small mammals, frogs and toads. It also provides food for wildlife from autumn until spring.
It flowers in autumn, when few other flowers are open for business. Bees, butterflies and all number of insects come to feed on the nectar and pollen. In fact it is so popular with bees that you can often hear it “buzzing” as you get close, especially on a warm day.
For insects that hibernate over the winter, like the queen wasps, queen bumble-bees, queen hornets, red admiral and peacock butterflies this may provide their last chance to fuel up.
By December the fertilised flowers have ripened into clusters of black berries. Birds love them! These calorie rich berries will last until April if they don’t get gobbled up before!
Do you know what it is?
It’s so easy to overlook some species….
I was out doing a bird count at the North Pool today and had ignored these pigeons to start with. They are Stock Doves, the shy, smaller and prettier cousin of the Wood Pigeon. The photos were snapped on my mobile through the scope.
Canada Geese a twilight view.
Over docks, over tug, over me . . . then into the nature reserve!
Weather and high tide warning⚠️
We have received a warning that the old sea wall running along the seaward side of the nature reserve may be over-topped by high tides during the next few days.
We often get very high tides here but the tide is expected to be pushed even higher than usual due to the low pressure and on-shore winds forecast for this weekend.
So it would be advisable to avoid the sea wall path especially early mornings and late evenings when the tide is at its highest.
You can see the tide times and heights for the next few days at BBC Avonmouth tide table: www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast-and-sea/tide-tables/12/523#2019-09-30.
Please be careful out there.
The latest from National Grid . . .
Ecologists have been painstakingly moving reptiles and amphibians, including the protected Great-Crested Newts, from the planned construction zone. To ensure the construction corridor remains free of protected species, they will manage the vegetation by pruning trees and cutting grasslands, scrub and hedgerows down to ground level. This work will start later this week and be completed in October.
You can read more about this on the notices posted around the reserve. We have also put the full briefing on our website at www.portburywharfnaturereserve.co.uk/hinkley-connection-update-september-2019/
Hinkley Connection Update September 2019 – Friends of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve
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 to date with the work being done on Portbury… Read More
The sight of two snipe on the edge of South Pool cheered up a grey and drizzly morning. My photo may be poor but it was a joy to watch these engaging waders.
Canada Geese are rather more common but even still, when 100 flew into North Pool it was quite a spectacle. They settled on the Island to rest up for a while.
It’s now easier to sign up for Friends of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve Community Group’s updates.
Portbury Wharf’s Mammals
Portbury Wharf’s mammals include water voles and roe deer. We have others of course.
Foxes, badgers and a variety of smaller creatures such as field mice, voles and shrews are on the reserve. But here we are focusing on the increasingly rare water vole and the not so rare roe deer. In fact the roe deer, perhaps the most charming of our native deer, are quite numerous so you are actually more likely to see roe deer than foxes or badgers.
Water Vole
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Roe Deer
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Related posts featuring Portbury Wharf’s Mammals
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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