Why the Solent coast is special

Thousands of birds travel from as far as Africa and the Arctic for the haven of the Solent’s mudflats, saltmarshes and shingle shores. But what makes this stretch of coast so special?

The Solent may look like a calm stretch of water between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, but for birds it’s a haven away from the harsh winters of the Arctic, a crossroads for global migration, a nursery for summer breeders, and a year‑round home for resident species. Its mix of sheltered estuaries, wide mudflats, saltmarshes, shingle spits, and quiet creeks creates one of the richest coastal ecosystems in northern Europe.

By giving birds the space they need to feed, rest and breed without being disturbed, we help ensure the Solent remains a safe and welcoming place for the birds that depend on it.

The Isle of Wight – a natural breakwater

The Isle of Wight acts as a vast natural breakwater, softening the full force of the English Channel. Thanks to this shelter, fine sediments can settle and build the habitats birds depend on.

From the Lymington–Keyhaven marshes in the west to the mudflats around the Western Yar and the shallow waters of Chichester Harbour, the unique Solent landscapes owe their stability to the impact of the Isle of Wight. Without the island, the Solent would be a far rougher, more exposed coastline and less of a safe haven for birds.

Mudflats and saltmarshes: an ‘all-you-can-eat’ buffet for birds

Beneath the surface of the Solent’s mudflats and saltmarshes lies a bustling world of lugworms, ragworms, cockles, mud snails and tiny crustaceans. For hungry birds, this is a dependable feast that keeps them going through long migrations and cold winters.

Saltmarsh plants such as sea purslane and glasswort help anchor the sediment, slowly building a habitat that becomes richer and more intricate with every tide.

Dunlins and brent geese at Bembridge Harbour on the Isle of Wight

Dunlins on the mudflats at the Oysterbeds on Hayling Island

Birds feeding at Lymington-Keyhaven

A winter lifeline for migratory birds

Each autumn, the Solent becomes a sanctuary for birds escaping freezing conditions in the Arctic and northern Europe. Many arrive exhausted and ravenously hungry after journeys of thousands of miles, and the Solent’s mild climate and abundant food are exactly what they need.

• Dark bellied brent geese travel from the Siberian tundra to feed on eelgrass all along the Solent.
• Black tailed godwits from Iceland gather on our coastlines, often returning to the same mudflat year after year.
• Sanderlings from Siberia and Greenland, and turnstones from Greenland, Lapland and Canada use the Solent’s beaches and mudflats as winter feeding ground.

For these birds, the Solent isn’t just a pleasant place to spend the winter – it’s the difference between arriving back their summer breeding grounds, fit and healthy, or not making the journey at all.

Dark-bellied brent geese feeding at Emsworth

Black-tailed godwit at Bunny Meadows in Warsash

Sanderlings roosting at Ryde on the Isle of Wight

A home for resident species

The Solent is not only a seasonal refuge. Many species live here year round, taking advantage of its sheltered creeks and marshes.

• Oystercatchers are present throughout the year, with winter numbers boosted by birds arriving from the Netherlands and northern Europe.
• Little egrets, once rare in Britain, now thrive along the Solent’s shallow waters.
• Kingfishers nest along quiet banks and are regularly seen at Bunny Meadows in Warsash, at Calshot and at Bembridge Harbour on the Isle of Wight
• Cormorants, with their gothic silhouettes, are a familiar sight drying their wings on harbour markers and breakwaters.

An oystercatcher at Bembridge Harbour

A little egret and oystercatcher at Bembridge Harbour

A kingfisher at Calshot

A cormorant on the Isle of Wight

Summer brings the terns

When winter visitors depart, the Solent welcomes a new wave of travellers: terns. These elegant seabirds migrate from West Africa, arriving in April alongside Mediterranean gulls, to breed on the Solent’s shingle beaches and islands.

• Little terns, among the UK’s rarest seabirds, nest at East Head and Hayling Island, where volunteers often help protect their fragile nests.
• Common terns breed at Lymington, Hurst Spit and on rafts in Langstone Harbour.
• Sandwich terns, with their black bills tipped in yellow, form lively colonies in Chichester Harbour.

They choose the Solent for its calm waters, safe nesting sites and rich fishing grounds – perfect for raising chicks.

Little terns feeding at Lymington

Common terns

Tern rafts on the Oysterbeds

A small stretch of water with global importance

Birds cross continents, deserts and oceans to reach the Solent. Some stay for the winter, some for the summer, and some remain all year. This coastline supports lives that began thousands of miles away, linking our shores to distant landscapes and migration routes that span the globe.

Sharing the Solent with wildlife of such international importance is a privilege, and the way we behave along the coast makes a real difference. Giving birds plenty of space, watching for signs that they’ve noticed us, stepping back if they become alert, keeping dogs close, and following requests on signs all help reduce disturbance. These small, thoughtful actions allow birds to rest and feed undisturbed – exactly what they need to survive their long journeys.

Ensuring birds have undisturbed space throughout the year supports their survival and helps safeguard the Solent as an important refuge for generations to come.