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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
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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
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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.
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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