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Friends of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve
We are delighted to see the return of our first common sandpiper to the North island and if you are thinking of popping along this weekend- the please keep your eyes open. You will probably need binoculars as this little chap is small as you can see from the video attached. Look for the tiny bird on the waters edge
Have you seen or heard a Long-tailed Tit recently (make sure to unmute the microphone on the far right of the picture if you want to hear it)?![]()
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The Long-tailed Tit is a pretty little bird. It is black and white with lovely touches of pink on its back and belly. You are likely to see them in excitable groups roaming hedgerows, gardens and on the nature reserve. They will be looking for insects to eat. When it gets cold they huddle together for warmth. It is often their high pitched call which attracts your attention. So listen to their sound by “playing” the photo.
Next to Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve is a salt marsh. This salt marsh is a hugely important ecosystem, so much so, it is even designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.![]()
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But why are salt marshes like this one so important? ![]()
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Plover Rovers - Talking the Coast are hosting a WEBINAR "Saltmarshes - Coastal Superheroes" tomorrow, Tuesday 16th March at 7pm! ![]()
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Their founder, Scott Xavi Gudrich, will talk about the important ecosystem services salt marshes provide, why marshes are threatened and what can be done to protect them.![]()
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Plover Rovers say: "Here are three reasons to tune in and show some love for salt marshes : ![]()
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🌊 They protect the coast against flooding and erosion.![]()
🦀 They provide a safe habitat for large populations of well-adapted species.![]()
🌱 They capture and store more carbon than our terrestrial forests!![]()
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Find out why the humble salt marsh is a coastal superhero and how it can assist us in the mitigation of climate change."![]()
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You can get your free tickets on their website at: linkin.bio/plover-rovers
Despite the Cold grey day, plenty of small birds around. Plus a Kestrel Hunting but light conditions to difficult for a picture. The Deer are far enough a way that we did not disturb them, so pictures suffered in difficult light.
Ahh another sign of spring on the reserve! Thanks David HorlickColt's-foot flowers starting to show at Portbury Wharf now. Yellow seems to be a popular colour for early signs of Spring.
Portishead's salt marshes are such important habitats that we thought they deserved their very own Facebook and Instagram pages. So as well as following the wildlife of the nature reserve on this page you can also see glimpses and even art from Portishead's salt marshes on our sister page Portishead Salt Marshes.![]()
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These fragile ecosystems need to be cherished and protected so the more people who know about them the better.
Look out for greenfinches on the reserve. The scientific name is Chloris Chloris which means greenish-yellow. They have a fizzy, wheezing call which you can hear here: www.xeno-canto.org/578272.
Temporary footpath closures tomorrow and Wednesday . . . also a couple of days in March.ADVANCE NOTCE - TEMPORARY FOOTPATH CLOSURE![]()
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On 24 and 25 February and 4 and 5 March, contractors will be carrying out some essential works to the banks adjacent to the Portishead substation entrance to the reserve. Unfortunately this means for these few days, access to this area will be restricted during daylight hours.
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Last Updated: September 13, 2019 by fpwnr
Very Scarce Lesser Emperor
We are approaching the end of this year’s dragonfly season, but a few species are still to be seen. In the last week, or so, we have seen: Common Blue and Emerald Damselflies; Common and Ruddy Darters; Migrant Hawkers and a female Emperor depositing eggs on vegetation in the North Pools.
Possibly the most unusual sighting was of the very scarce Lesser Emperor. We had suspected that this rare vagrant, which has bred in the UK, was present at PWNR; but we had no photograph to confirm our suspicions. Our luck changed when we managed to photograph a Lesser Emperor. Though it is not a particularly good image it captures a Lesser Emperor attacking an egg-laying Emperor.
See also our Dragonfly and Damselfly section
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Category: odonata
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