Southampton Water

[Catherine]

Although this busy port area might seem an unlikely place to watch wildlife, there are amosts as many sightings of interesting wildlife there as you might find at nearby nature reserves. Wildlife does not discriminate as much as we do re. where to stay and eat!

So often, while at Hythe Marina (on the west side of Southampton Water) watching the great liners leave to sail around the world, we spot interesting birds or insects.

Birds (Mute Swans, Brent Geese and Waders) use that water channel to navigate to and from the coast, Brent Geese feed in the mud at low tide, Mussels, Cockles, Winkles and Oysters cling on to the rocks and any structure below the hight tide mark, Painted Lady Butterflies decorate the Valerian which flowers on the waterside rocks in summer, and, if you're lucky, you might see a Kingfisher using the girders at the marina exit as look-out point for the small fish which inhabit the shallower waters. (Sorry - I didn't manage a pic of the Kingfisher - it was too quick!)

[rolf]

Yes, amazing how wildlife adapts to its surroundings, nice snapshot of the area Catherine.