Birding for Beginners, Everyone Welcome for Free

Milford Conservation Volunteers (MCV) have twice monthly Birding for Beginners mornings and anyone young or old is welcome to go along for free.  The sessions are available on the first and third Saturday mornings of the month at two alternating locations in Keyhaven and Milford on Sea. 

The next one is on Saturday 19th August at Sturt Pond Bird Hide: 10am to 12noon.

Local volunteers, who are bird experts, are available to help identify birds and answer questions. Over 120 species of birds have been recorded in recent times. Equipment is provided, all you need to do is simply turn up and see what’s happening.

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3rd Saturday of every month at Sturt Pond Bird Hide: 10am to 12noon.

Sturt Pond is a haven for swans, ducks, Brent geese, mallard, teal, shelduck & grebes. Two wooden bridges cross the stream which runs from Sturt Pond to the salt marshes. The bird hide is a hidden sanctuary to observe Keyhaven nature reserve.

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Sturt Pond Bird Hide is open to the public every day from 9am to 5pm, or dusk if earlier. (Locked at night.)

Directions to Sturt Pond Bird Hide: The bird hide is located immediately behind the Lighthouse restaurant on the Hurst beach side. The bird hide can be found at the end of the concealed metal gated path between the Lighthouse restaurant and the black council sheds.

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1st Saturday of every month at Keyhaven Observatory: 10am to 12noon. 

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The Keyhaven Observatory exists through the generosity of  the J & D Edgar Ltd. family with assistance from Simeon Morgan Farming, MCV has been given an occupancy licence for a redundant farm building (old pumping station) at the westernmost end of the Ancient Highway.  The brick-building has been converted into a small Bird Observatory looking up The Pans and across to the lower Avon Water.  The Pans has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its gatherings of winter wildfowl. 

Directions to Keyhaven Observatory: From Milford village, turn left at the bottom of the green towards Keyhaven. Pass the Keyhaven War Memorial green on your left and The Gun Inn on your right. Turn left into the NFDC car park. Pay and park and walk towards the track that leads round the northern part of the quay towards the coastal footpath and Iley Lane. After about four hundred metres, you will see the Bird Observatory gate and Welcome sign on your left. For location, please click here. 

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About Milford Conservation Volunteers (MCV)

Milford on Sea Conservation Volunteers are a group of local people who are dedicated to conserving and improving the wildlife and environment within the Milford on Sea and Keyhaven parish. MCV volunteers have regular tasks groups for logging, scrub clearance, balsam pulling and such like. 

In 2020, MCV members were honoured to receive the country’s highest accolade for a voluntary group, the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which is equivalent to an MBE.

New volunteers, young and old are always welcome.

MCV also run other events related to local nature such as:

• Birding for Beginner Sessions on 1st & 3rd Saturday each month.

• Guided local Nature Rambles are held on a monthly basis.

• Creeks and Saltmarsh Boat Trip each month. Sailing from Keyhaven Hurst Ferry Pontoon. This is a boat trip around Keyhaven Creeks and Saltmarsh, led by a Bird expert. Space is limited so pre-booking is essential.

To see details of all MCV events, please click here.

Milford Conservation Volunteers (MCV)

www.milfordconservation.org