The Bird Aware Solent team and board members recently enjoyed a fantastic visit to Lymington–Keyhaven Nature Reserve, with a refreshing sea breeze providing welcome relief from the summer heat.
Expertly hosted by Pete Durnell from Hampshire Countryside Service, the site manager for the area, we were delighted to see so many chicks and fledglings across the reserve.
Protective fencing around Normandy Lagoon, installed as part of Bird Aware Solent’s site-specific project funding, is helping birds feed and raise their young free from disturbance by passers-by and their dogs, while also keeping out predators such as foxes, badgers and even otters.
Protective fencing around Normandy Lagoon
Highlights of the visit included seeing two redshank and avocet families, each with two fluffy chicks, bickering over territory. We also spotted oystercatcher, lapwing and common tern chicks, a little tern fledgling taking one of its first clumsy flights, and dozens of young black-headed gulls.
Another special moment was watching two Dartford warblers – a parent and youngster – hopping through a nearby gorse bush just a few feet away.
All of these birds face significant challenges when raising their young. During our visit, we learned that more than a dozen little terns had recently been lost overnight to airborne predators. They need all the help they can get to achieve a successful breeding season, so thank you to everyone who helps protect nesting birds by giving them the space they need to feed, rest and raise their young safely.
Ranger Joe’s species tick list
A total of 23 different species were recorded during the visit:
- Common whitethroat
- Canada goose
- Oystercatcher
- Avocet
- Common tern
- Lapwing
- Redshank
- Pied wagtail
- Linnet
- Dartford warbler
- Curlew
- Mediterranean gull
- Great crested grebe
- Meadow pipit
- Little tern
- Shelduck
- Little egret
- Stonechat
- Ringed plover
- Sandwich tern
- Swallow
- Goldfinch
- Long-tailed tit
