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Friends of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve
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Nature Reserve
Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve This is a 150 acre nature reserve on the edge of the Severn Estuary between Portishead and Royal Portbury Dock. It was in 2008 that Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve was first conceived to offset… Read More
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What’s Happening
Welcome to May Lots of birds are arriving now from Africa! Many birds spend winter in the Tropics but return to nest here in summer. Just arrived are Swallows, Swifts and House Martens and listen out for Cuckoos… Read More
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Wetlands Trail
Have you tried the Wetlands Trail yet? It is a permanent trail which you can enjoy every time you visit the reserve. This trail changes often! The SUMMER trail is now up! Download a digital map… Read More
Learn MorePortbury Wharf Wetland
Wetlands are very important places and Portbury Wharf is no exception
Watch our slide show to see why:
For more facts about wetlands and World Wetlands Day visit www.worldwetlandsday.org
As part of the Great Big Green Week which happily coincides with World Salt Marsh Day, we have a stand in Portishead Library featuring salt marshes. ![]()
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This morning a volunteer from the Friends of Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve Community Group will be there to answer any questions you might have about these special habitats.
This is a great saltmarsh explainer from WWT featuring Steart Saltmarsh. . . but see if you can spot Portishead too? ![]()
WWT
Something strange is happening to UK coasts
www.youtube.com
Once widespread along the UK coastline, saltmarshes have quietly di...
It's time to celebrate!![]()
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It's World Salt Marsh Day tomorrow (11th June). ![]()
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Our nearest salt marsh is right next to the nature reserve. We are so lucky to have such an amazing habitat here. If you need convincing see the 6 myth busters from WWT . . .
During last Saturday's bird count on the reserve we were delighted to see that this Lapwing chick on the South Pool island is still alive and growing. There must now be a fair chance that it will fledge. Sadly there are very few nesting Lapwings locally these days and they usually lose their chicks to predators, so fingers crossed for this little mite. Many thanks to Enzo Della Nave for these shots of the chick digiscoped with his mobile.
Keep a look out for Painted Lady butterflies . . . they have flown here all the way from North Africa. Quite a feat for a creature so small and fragile!![]()
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Find out more at butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/painted-lady
Just a quick reminder about our free butterfly walk tomorrow morning Saturday 16 May - 10am.![]()
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Discover the wildlife that calls Portbury Wharf Nature Reserve it’s home. Enjoy a guided walk from a knowledgeable volunteer, along the marina, along the salt marsh and into the nature reserve. Come along for a peaceful stroll and to learn more about our treasured local nature haven.![]()
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Meet us at the red sculpture on the marina.![]()
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What3words: ///yoga.valued.metals![]()
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Another date for your diary we have a Dragonfly walk on Saturday 4 July - 10am![]()
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I just had to add a post on this new sighting, admittedly not on the reserve, but I am guessing that’s where they had come from. Not the best picture, but it rather took me by surprise when 5 flamingos flew along the coast from the Salt Marsh towards the Lake Grounds! If anyone plans a walk down that way this morning do let me know if you spot them. Interesting that one of them was a juvenile, probably on passage for the first time since hatching last year. Keep your eye out for these very rare visitors to the UK
Isnt this sunny weather lovely? Well, our early butterflies certainly think so. Walking into town this morning I have spotted three varieties already! First to show is nearly always the brimstone, and that was what I saw first - three of them! Then along came a peacock and last to show itself, on the Spanish Steps, was a red admiral. You can find lots of information on what to look out here butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/species-to-spot-in-march.
butterfly-conservation.org
March 3rd is World Wildlife Day and to mark the occasion we've put together some information about the butterfly and moth species you might see if you venture out this weekend. Brimstone For many, the...
The female Black Redstart is still showing well next to Portishead Marina. It is the size of a Robin and can be easily missed. There are fewer than 100 breeding pairs in the UK, putting it on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. It's also listed as a Schedule 1 species on The Wildlife and Countryside Act.
We have a new Dog Ranger of the Month! Each month one of our Dog Rangers features on our posters that are posted around the Marina and the Reserve. If your canine companion would like to become a Dog Ranger just visit our notice boards and scan the QR code on the poster!