Barton-on-Sea, Milford-on-Sea & Hordle Cliffs

The main reason for visiting Hordle Cliffs (an extensive stretch of slumping clay and gravel undercliff) is because it is the only site in Hampshire for the Glanville Fritillary, which otherwise occurs in Britain only on the Isle of Wight. The site is also important for various other insect groups, and Cream-spot Tiger moth is notably frequent here. An interesting range of plants includes wetland species on damp flushes, including Common Reed and Southern Marsh Orchid.

This is an excellent area for migrant birds - sea passage is broadly similar to that of Hurst (see below) but views are more distant. This area is far superior for passerine migrants, however, but is severely underwatched. Recent rarities have included Dotterel, Tawny Pipit and Ortolan Bunting. This stretch of coast also regularly attracts flyover raptors on passage - Osprey, Montagu's Harrier, Red-footed Falcon and Black Kite have all been recorded.

Hurst Beach and Castle

At the far end of Hurst Spit is Hurst Castle, dating back to Henry VIII. The site can be rewarding for seawatching during the spring and autumn passage periods, although there is luckily no need to walk all the way out to the Castle! The rocky sea-defences near the excellent café will do....

Typical passage seabirds include Great and Arctic Skua, all three divers, Manx Shearwater, Common Scoter, terns of up to six species, Fulmar and Shag (the latter two rare in the county). Rarer species such as Leach's and Storm Petrel may occur after storms, and rarities like Balearic and Cory's Shearwater and Long-tailed Skua have been seen in recent years.

The beach itself may have a Snow Bunting or two in winter, or even (on very rare occasions) a Shore Lark. Rock Pipits breed at the Castle - this is their only regular breeding site in Hampshire.

Keyhaven/Pennington

The site consists of mud flats, salt marsh, shingle and various brackish pools. Surrounding farmland, gravel extraction and landfill help to give this site much variety.

Waders are the primary targets here, along with wildfowl, notably Brent Geese, in the winter. Raptors and even the odd scoter, diver or grebe (including Slavonian and Black-necked) offshore adds to the interest. A significant Eider flock is now present in winter, and (remarkably) a nest was found here in 2004!

More unusual visitors recently have included Stilt Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Baird's Sandpiper, American Golden Plover, Lesser Sandplover, Black-winged Stilt and Great Spotted Cuckoo.

The area is also of botanical interest. Coastal specialities such as Glassworts, Sea-purslane, Sea Aster, Curly-leaved Dock and Golden Samphire can be found here.

Normandy/Oxey

Still further east, towards the Lymington River, the Normandy lagoons offer yet more superb wader and wildfowl habitat.

Rarities here have included Cattle Egret, American Golden Plover and Baillon's Crake, and during the autumn 2005 influx of Laughing Gulls, we found the individual on the right. We were able to confirm that it was the same bird that had been found in Gosport the previous week - the first confirmed record for Hampshire.