Bird Aware Solent is inviting everyone who lives near the coast to join this year’s Great Coastal Birdwatch, taking place from Saturday 18th October to Sunday 2nd November.
Now in its seventh year, the event celebrates the arrival of thousands of migratory birds that spend the colder months along the Solent’s shores.
From Arctic Siberia to Greenland and Canada, these birds travel vast distances to reach the region’s rich mudflats and saltmarshes.
How to get involved
Taking part is simple. Anyone visiting the coast during the two-week event can join in by recording how many different bird species they spot in up to an hour, then sharing their sightings on the website.
Bird Aware ranger Eloise Mott said,
“Watching thousands of birds arrive on our shores each autumn is truly breathtaking. These migrations are not only a wonder of nature – they’re a reminder of how important this area is for wildlife.
“By sharing migratory birds’ stories, we hope people will feel inspired to look out for them and give them space to rest and feed undisturbed.”
Events and activities
Last year, around 100 different species were recorded, including ospreys and several red-listed species such as dunlins, black-tailed godwits and lapwings.
To mark the occasion, Bird Aware is hosting free events across the region, with pop-up activities along the coastline.
A special open day will also take place at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve (Fareham) on Saturday 25th October from 10am to 3pm. Visitors can enjoy free entry to the reserve, with activities for both adults and children.
Birds to look out for
Last year’s most spotted species, dark-bellied brent geese, travel 3,000 miles from Siberia and feed on eelgrass and other coastal vegetation. Around 10% of the world’s population spends winter on the Solent.
Wigeons, the third most seen species, migrate from Iceland, Russia and Ukraine. Their whistling calls and striking chestnut heads with a creamy stripe make them easy to identify.
Oystercatchers, with their black-and-white plumage and bright orange beaks, were the fourth most spotted species. They feed on shellfish and are often seen flying in noisy flocks.
More Solent favourites
Black-tailed godwits, elegant waders with long legs and straight bills, also made it into the top ten most frequently seen species. They migrate from Iceland and are red-listed for conservation concern.
Dunlins, another red-listed species, arrive from Scandinavia and Russia. These small waders often gather in large, fast-moving flocks and took seventh place in last year’s count.
Easy to spot along the Solent
Little egrets, with their bright white feathers and yellow feet, were seen by almost three-quarters of last year’s participants.
Cormorants also featured widely, easily recognised by their dark silhouettes and habit of perching with wings outstretched to dry.
Protecting Solent’s birdlife
Bird Aware Solent works across coastlines from the New Forest to Southampton Water, Portsmouth, Chichester and Langstone Harbours, and the northern coast of the Isle of Wight.
The partnership brings together 19 local authorities and wildlife organisations to protect the Solent’s internationally important birdlife.
