Sharing Knowledge
BIRDING FOR BEGINNERS
Keyhaven Bird Observatory and Sturt Pond Bird Hide
Regular monthly birding sessions – you never know what you may see.
- Free event
- Every 1st Saturday in the month 10-12 @ Keyhaven Bird Observatory
- Every 3rd Saturday in the month 10-12 @ Sturt Pond Bird Hide
- Everyone welcome
- Binoculars and scopes available
- Expert birders on hand to help
- Reference books
GUIDED WINTER BOAT TRIPS
Keyhaven Creeks & Saltmarsh
Periodically through the winter months MCV organise boat trips led by a local expert.
- Approx. one-and-a-half hour duration
- Meet at Keyhaven to Hurst Castle Ferry Pontoon 5 minutes before departure.
- Dates of upcoming trips can be found in the calendar of events, search for ‘Boat Trips’.
- Remember to dress appropriately for the weather and you may want to bring a rug or cushion to sit on.
- MCV Members– £15
- Non-MCV Members – £20
MCV Bird Surveys
In recent years as part of the Biodiversity Action Plan (SM2 and SM4), local ornithologist and bird ringer Graham Giddens has carried out detailed surveys for MCV of sites in which MCV maintains an interest and actively helps to manage. Here is a summary of his findings, and links to the full reports.
DOWNTON LAKES
(Downton Manor Farm Gravel Works)
January to December 2021
88 species found.
71 birds of 19 species ringed.
Highlights include:
little grebe, gadwall, tufted duck, stone curlew, little ringed plover, snipe, green sandpiper, kingfisher, skylark, 7 species of warbler including grasshopper warbler and reed warbler, firecrest, 9 species of finch including bullfinch.
(Click on the image below for full report)
THE PANS WETLANDS
(Keyhaven)
January to December 2022
216 birds of 21 species were ringed. The total includes some of the site’s key
species such as kingfisher, yellow wagtail, Cetti’s warbler, grasshopper
warbler, reed warbler, sedge warbler, bearded reedling and reed bunting.
(Click on the images below for the full reports)
- Note these birds were held by a professional ringer who released them immediately after ringing without harm, in line with BTO policy.
STURT POND
(Milford-on-Sea)
September 2019 to September 2020
113 species found.
215 birds of 24 species ringed.
Highlights include:
goosander, red-breasted merganser, osprey, water rail, 16 species of wader including snipe and jack snipe, kingfisher, wryneck, redstart, black redstart, whinchat, wheatear and grasshopper warbler.
(Click on the image below for full report)
THE PLEASURE GROUNDS AND STUDLAND COMMON
(Milford-on-Sea)
Breeding Bird Survey March to August 2020
55 species found, of which 34 were breeding.
107 birds of 20 species ringed.
Highlights include:
tawny owl, 7 species of warbler including Cetti’s warbler and lesser whitethroat, firecrest, 7 species of finch including bullfinch and crossbill.
(Click on the image below for full report)
More Birding Links and information
BTO
British Trust for Ornithology
BTO has a scientific approach to birds with many ongoing surveys and studies, including bird ringing.
RSPB
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Offers plenty of information on birds and wildlife, with citizen science projects.
- Bird identification by appearance
- Bird Song
HOS
Hampshire Ornithological Society
Records and publishes information about wild birds in Hampshire.
- Going Birding provides daily lists of sightings by county
- Large collection of recorded zoom talks
Know your Birds by their Song
BirdNET app for your mobile identifies birds by recording their song.
Bird Watchers Code
- Avoid disturbing birds and their habitats – the birds’ interests should always come first.
- Be an ambassador for bird watching.
- Know the law and the rules for visiting the countryside, and follow them.
- Send your sightings to the County Bird Recorder and www.birdtrack.net
- Think about the interests of wildlife and local people before passing on news of a rare bird, especially during the breeding seasons
IOW White Tailed Eagle Project
In 2020 MCV sponsored a white tailed eagle tracker. You can find more details in our 2020 newsletter
White tailed eagles are also referred to as sea eagles.
You can find out the latest information on the Roy Dennis website
So much diversity of habitat in Milford on Sea, provides a vast variety of birds: some in residence, some just passing through and others staying for the season; garden birds, woodland birds, sea birds, waders and many more. Join us in identifying them.
