Birding in South East England

Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight — densely populated, but stuffed with high-quality reserves and the South Coast migration corridor.

Top sites

1. Dungeness (Kent)

One of the great UK birding sites. RSPB reserve + ARC pits + Long Pits + sea-watching from the point. Migration spectacle, wintering wildfowl, breeding common terns. October sea-watch can be exceptional. Dungeness Bird Observatory monitors visible passage daily.

2. Pagham Harbour (West Sussex)

Tidal harbour + Sidlesham Ferry pool. Classic for waders, terns (little, common, sandwich, Arctic). Peregrine + raptor passage. Reedbed at Selsey end for migrants.

3. North Kent marshes

Cluster of reserves on the Thames estuary: RSPB Cliffe Pools, Northward Hill, Elmley NNR. Wildfowl in winter, breeding waders, marsh harrier, peregrine, occasional rare visitors.

4. New Forest (Hampshire)

UK's best heathland complex — Dartford warbler, woodlark, nightjar, redstart, hobby, all six tit species, occasional honey-buzzard in summer. Pannage + ancient oak + acidic streams = Britain's richest single habitat for birds.

5. Pulborough Brooks RSPB (West Sussex)

Inland flagship — flooded grazing for wintering lapwing, golden plover, wigeon. Spring breeding waders and harriers. Easy access from London.

Region specialties

• Dartford Warbler — heathland resident, tame in good winter weather.
• Cetti's Warbler — explosive song from reedbeds; reliable.
• Nightingale — declining, but still in scrubby corners of Sussex (Knepp Wildland Project) + Kent.
• Stone-curlew — Brecks-style habitat at Salisbury Plain, just outside the region but worth the trip.
• Black Redstart — pockets in Kent ports + Brighton seafront.