Milton Common by Heather Mills

Heather Mills has not only sharp eyes, but has keen hearing, well tuned to birdsong.

She is one of those who can discern all species and hear a Goldcrest from 200 yards, with screeching traffic all around. A keen digiscoper, Heather manages good pictures simply holding her camera to the telescope, but this requires a steady hand, good conditions, and not advisable after a night on the tiles. Even in the heart of a big city such as Portsmouth, and with a tiny garden, there is nothing to prevent you attracting birds, such as this Blue Tit, photographed from Heather’s garden.

This picture of a rare bird (for us) was taken with the telescope on 60X magnification and the bird was moving!

Heather lives in Portsmouth itself. Many inhabitants do not realize that they reside on an island, with just 3 roads on, and as far as wildlife is concerned, we rarely hear anything from the city. Heather did tell relate that she recently met a man who has been birdwatching Portsmouth Harbour since 1947, so he must have seen the occasional bird in that time. Unlike Southampton, Portsea is nearly all built up, but there remain a few treasured spots.

Milton Common offers a wonderful walk along the shoreline, but also mixed habitats with plenty of shrubs and bushes, lakes and grass, and views east across to Hayling Island and Farlington Marshes. Best time is probably a couple of hours before or after high tide, when the waders are forced very close to the shore. It is easy to find, simply turn left off the Eastern Road (A2030) at Moorings Way and follow the road for half-a-mile.

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MILTON COMMON

Looking for a spot to bird watch in Portsmouth, then I can recommend Milton Common SU677004. Park by the side of the road just before Furze Lane.

Any time is of interest, but I do like the spring when the birds are setting up territories. You stand a very good chance of seeing Sedge Warblers clinging to the reeds around the edges in Swan Lake, aptly named because the Mute Swans do frequent these lakes, and usually attempt to nest.

Here you can see the many other species of birds that reside or visit the lakes. But do not forget to watch out and listen for the many waders that feed upon the shoreline or out in the harbour. Depending on the time of your visit, maybe spring or early summer, you could well discover the sights and sounds of Common, Sandwich and Little Terns patrolling the sea, then hovering for a moment and diving. This distinguishes them from gulls.

Amongst the cacophony of bird calls, listen out for Cetti’s Warbler. A very small “LBJ”, (little brown job) that has the most amazing song that can be heard above most other calls, it is sharp and very loud, and like no other. You cannot mistake the call but you are unlikely to see this tiny bird, it is invariably in cover. I have counted up to six likely males over the spread of lakes. They have certainly endeared themselves to this habitat and are thriving.

Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, many Black-headed Gulls, occasionally Common Gulls, Little Grebe, otherwise known as Dabchick, Tufted Duck, maybe a Gadwall or a Shoveller.

Listen out for migrant Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Whitethroats as well as all the common birds, Linnets, Greenfinchs, members of the Tit family to name but a few. They abound in the many brambles that line the outer edges of the lakes. Stonechats display on the tops of Ragwort along the footpath that runs west to east alongside the playing fields of the university.

I have been rewarded with good views of Spotted Flycatcher and had a spectacular view of a Cuckoo flying through. A Redstart may be seen on the edges of the allotments, along the southern end of Locksway Road. Kestrels regularly patrol over the fields and you may be lucky enough to spot other raptors.

If you walk in a southerly direction towards the old lock gates, once navigable for barges, look over the playing fields of the University for Wagtails and in winter the Brent Geese frequent here.

Along the shore you may see Red-breasted Mergansers in abundance and Turnstones, maintaining their name as they busily overturn stones and seaweed in search of food. The very important feeding grounds for the Black-tailed Godwit are alongside this site and look out for colour-ringed birds. This means that they have been caught to enable more information of their feeding and breeding patterns to be recorded and explored, which enlightens us as to where they go in summer and also details their age.

Converts of Flora and Fauna can have an equally enriched visit in summer, and may see the many species that abound upon this unlikely mixed-habitat oasis of wildlife in the heart of Portsmouth.

From my brief description, I hope that you too will enjoy a wonderfully uplifting visit to this magnificent little haven and like me, keep returning to see something different each time you visit.

Heather Mills

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