Another Food Week Bird Walk

Following the successful Food Week ‘Feed the birds walk' around Sturt Pond local nature reserve on Tuesday 10th April when 29 different bird species were seen, the Milford Conservation Volunteers (MCV) led a second walk around the Pleasure Grounds (woodlands) and Studland Common nature reserve on Wednesday 11th April.

The guides were Tony Locke, MCV Conservation Officer, Mervyn Couzens (River Warden) and Keith Metcalf. Ten youngsters and ten parents and grandparents walked the grounds with their guides and were again enthralled with some fine close-up views of woodland birds aided by some clever pre-recorded bird song gadgetry. The recordings enticed some of the birds down from the trees to within a couple of feet of the walkers! Britain’s smallest bird, the Goldcrest, whose high-pitched call is usually only heard at the top of extremely tall pine trees, was encouraged to come down at Mill Meadow balancing pond to give spectacular close-up views of its gold stripe along the top of its head, while continuing to sing his heart out to the lucky bird spotters.

Other woodland birds seen and heard were, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit and Blackcap, while some walkers were lucky enough to see a pair of Sparrowhawks in mating flight over Studland Common. Nuthatch and Green Woodpecker were also recorded and a Speckled Wood butterfly landed on the ground leading down onto the MEG Boardwalk at Sharvells Copse. The total birds recorded over the two days was an impressive 42 different species.

Keith said that; “It was a wonderful opportunity to again take a number of youngsters around our nature reserves and if just one of the 28 visiting children goes on to have an interest in nature and local conservation, then one of the Milford Conservation Volunteer objectives will have been achieved”.

Further walks are being arranged by the MCV to encourage a better understanding of why woodlands, commons, streams and reed-beds need to be managed appropriately for the benefit of both wildlife and public amenity. These walks will be supported by a brand new Milford-on-Sea nature reserve walks booklet, which is being published in the summer and will be available for a small charge from village shops, businesses and from the MCV direct. Look out for the official announcement of its launch.