It’s not just the winter when the Solent is home to a whole host of protected species. In spring and summer we welcome the return of far-travelled terns and gulls.
Little terns, Sandwich terns, common terns, roseate terns and Mediterranean gulls fly thousands of miles to reach our shores from March to May. These intrepid travellers use our shingle beaches to nest and breed, creating bustling and noisy communities in favourite spots along the Solent coast.
Once here, the birds get busy in finding themselves a mate and then, if successful, in laying eggs in nests among the shingle. The eggs take about three weeks to hatch, then the chicks spend another month growing and developing the strength to take their first flight.
During this critical period, the nests and well-camouflaged eggs are incredibly vulnerable to disturbance. It’s essential for us to be vigilant, giving these birds ample space and following requests on signs to ensure their safety.
Here’s our guide to some of the birds that travel thousands of miles to nest on the Solent coastline:
Little tern
| Flies here from | West African coastline |
| Arrives: | From mid April |
| Starts nesting: | May |
| ID tips | Smallest tern, yellow bill with black tip, white brow |
| Did you know? | The UK’s 2nd rarest breeding bird |
Common tern
| Flies here from: | West African coastline |
| Arrives: | Mid April |
| Starts nesting: | May |
| ID tips: | Forked tail, black tip on orange/red bill |
| Did you know? | Often referred to as sea swallows |
Sandwich tern
| Flies here from: | West African coastline |
| Arrives: | Mid March onwards |
| Starts nesting: | Late April |
| ID tips: | Black bill with yellow tip (the mustard on the sandwich) |
| Did you know? | Named after Sandwich in Kent |
Roseate tern
| Flies here from: | West African coastline |
| Arrives: | May |
| Starts nesting: | June |
| ID tips: | (Very) faint rosy flush on chest, black bill with orange base. Long tail feather |
| Did you know? | Under 100 pairs in UK: one pair bred on Solent coast in 2024 |
Mediterranean gull
| Flies here from: | South West England, French, Iberian and Moroccan coast |
| Arrives: | March |
| Starts nesting: | April |
| ID tips: | Very similar to black-headed gull but jet black hood, mewing call, and white wingtips |
| Did you know? | Rare in UK until 1950s. The first pair known to breed in this country was at Needs Ore Point on the New Forest coast |
