Exploring the Wildlife of the Solent
The Solent consists of a stretch of water separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England and is a vibrant marine environment rich with diverse wildlife. This unique body of water, characterized by its strong tides and varying habitats, is a haven for many species. From the bustling shores to the deeper waters, the Solent offers a fascinating glimpse into the marine and coastal ecosystems of Southern England.
Coastal Birds: The Solent's Feathered Residents
The Solent's varied habitats, including salt marshes, mudflats, and dunes, support a wide array of bird species, making it a birdwatcher's paradise. Notable bird species include:
- Brent Goose (Branta bernicla): These migratory geese are winter visitors to the Solent, arriving from the Arctic tundra. Large flocks can be seen grazing on eelgrass in the intertidal zones.
- Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula): With distinctive black and white markings, these small waders are often spotted scurrying along sandy beaches, foraging for invertebrates.
- Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta): Recognizable by their striking black and white plumage and upturned bills, avocets are frequently seen in the Solent's saline lagoons and mudflats.
- Turnstone (Arenaria interpres): These sturdy little birds, with their mottled brown and white feathers, are experts at flipping over stones and debris to find food, hence their name.
Marine Mammals: The Solent's Aquatic Creatures
The Solent's waters are home to several marine mammal species, some of which are permanent residents while others are occasional visitors:
- Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): These small, elusive cetaceans commonly travel in small groups of around six. Growing to around 1.5 metres in length they are less lively than other porpoise species but if you're blessed with calm waters you can often spot them surfacing to breathe.
- Common Seal (Phoca vitulina): Also known as harbor seals, they are curious and playful but enjoy plenty of space. Chichester Harbour is known as the only common seal ‘rookery’ in the Eastern English Channel but the species enjoy feeding in Southampton Waters and the Isle of Wight. We have a few resident seals in the River Hamble itself and recent reports of pups being born at Beaulieu, Buckler's Hard.
- Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus): The Solent is regularly visited by common and bottlenose dolphins these intelligent and playful dolphins are more visible during the summer months when fish stocks are abundant.
Plant Life: The Solent's Submerged Meadows
The underwater landscapes of the Solent are lush with various plant species, contributing to the area's biodiversity:
- Seagrass (Zostera marina): Forming dense underwater meadows, seagrass provides essential habitat and nursery grounds for many marine species. These meadows are vital for maintaining the health of the Solent's ecosystem. The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has set a mission to see seagrass habitats in the Solent restored. The Solent Seagrass Restoration Project has actively been planting new seedlings and reharvesting them.
- Kelp (Laminaria spp.): These large, brown algae create underwater forests which are crucial for supporting marine biodiversity and protecting shorelines from erosion. Scientists have been trialing kelp farming specifically along the Langstone Harbour to benefit the environment, improve water quality, and provide food and shelter for many species.
The Solent is more than just a body of water; it's a dynamic and diverse ecosystem teeming with life. Whether you're a marine enthusiast, a conservationist, or simply seeking a tranquil escape, the Solent offers endless opportunities to connect with nature and discover the wonders of the marine world. Next time you're in southern England explore this coastal gem onboard our diverse range of sailing yachts to immerse yourself in the rich local wildlife.
If you have children onboard why not encourage them to spot some of these species and other points of interest whilst you're sailing with our very own i-spy on The Solent.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
As a family, including our 4 year old Labrador, we recently chartered a 'bareboat' yacht from Hamble Point Charters for 7 days to cruise the Solent. The company were fantastic from our first enquiry to handing back the boat. The yacht was clean and well presented. A great week and we will happily use them again!
We have just had another wonderful week on a yacht we chartered from Hamble Point Yacht Charters. We have sailed several of their boats, this time it was a lovely 35 foot Bavaria. Chartering from HPYC is always an easy choice for us: the boats are well maintained, support is excellent, and the staff are always super friendly and helpful. On top of that, Hamble Point is such an ideal starting location for sailing around the Solent.
This is truly a 5 * service. The team really looked after us both ashore on arrival and also while at sea. We were a relatively inexperienced crew but always felt the team ashore had our backs. Thoroughly recommended.
I just wanted to say Thank-you very much for the weekend charter. It was exactly what we were after (albeit cold!) plus Andy was an awesome teacher and great company. We’ll definitely be keen to book again soon!
We had a fabulous four days. Marina is ideally placed for the Solent, boat was in great condition, well equipped and a joy to sail. We were well briefed and the shore side team including the dog very friendly.
We charted one of the sailing yachts for a fantastic weekend cruise in the Solent. The boat was in superb condition and well equipped, the staff was very helpful explaining how things work on the yacht and there was also a video available with all the important information. 10/10 would recommend!
Had a fantastic week chartering Blue Otter, Alex was incredibly helpful and sent loads of information and date checking prior to booking. There was a handover video and both the handover and return were really smooth. The boat was lovely and well maintained and Lee was really helpful in recommending places to visit (and helping identify the steering issue as an autopilot takeover - doh!). Definitely will be back and would fully recommend!
Just back from a lovely week in the Solent. Great service from HPYC from first inquiry through to return handover. Very straightforward to deal with, and the yacht was in excellent condition. We've chartered from many companies in the UK and abroad and the attention to detail (and flawless inventory!) was second to none. Everything about the yacht and equipment had clearly been well looked after and was in immaculate condition. Great service, will use again.
Always very friendly service, and well-maintained yachts. Easy check-in and checkout. Will be back...
We had a great time and were very happy with everything. Your team were genuinely friendly and were very helpful when we needed it. Is a big contrast to many charter companies I have dealt with in the past.
Watching the sun go down with a glass of bubbly on the deck of a sparkling yacht was unbelievable. What a treat, and a much needed change of scenery in these troubled times. We will be back for sure
Fab service, nothing too much trouble, including my daft questions. I'll be a repeat customer for sure!
We had a great time sailing with Lee for a few days at the beginning of September. Hamble Point Yacht Charters supplied us an impeccable 45 ft Hanse yacht, which was handled with complete mastery by Captain Lee.It was a privilege to sail with Lee, who is clearly a highly skilled professional taking great pride in his work ... but who is also a fantastic character with a great sense of humour and plenty of fun stories to keep the whole family entertained. He balances the serious side of safety and learning about sailing with a whopping dose of amusement and good cheer. We sailed the Solent in some decent seas, visited Bucklers Hard on the banks of the Beaulieu River and learned lots about British nautical history. Our boys started somewhat of a fishing trend catching bass off the back of the boat in Portsmouth and we would love to sail with Lee again in the future.The man truly knows his stuff, maintained the boat impeccably and went to every effort to ensure that we had a great time. Many thanks to “Shippers” and Hamble Point Charters. We’ll be back.
Chartered bareboats with HPYC on numerous occasions most recently in Sept 2020. Always helpful and accommodating. Highly recommend.
We had a fantastic weekend sailing on Loxley B. Boat in super condition and spotlessly clean, Alex. and the team very thorough and always on hand to answer any questions. A great experience. We will be back. Thank you!