United Kingdom Ramsar wetland
Portsmouth Harbour
207 bird species recorded; the most in January, from March to April and in September.
David Broad · CC BY 3.0
This month here
145 species in January.128 species in February.135 species in March.140 species in April.117 species in May.100 species in June.115 species in July.134 species in August.136 species in September.126 species in October.128 species in November.124 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
NT
NT
NTNT
NT
NTNT
NTNT
NT
NT
NTNT
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
207 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 207Speciesrecorded more than once
- 89Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 6ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 38,256Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 10Raptors
- 4Owls
- 26Waders
- 31Gulls & seabirds
- 30Ducks & geese
- 13Herons, ibises & grebes
- 1Storks & cranes
- 72Songbirds
- 20Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 207 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors10 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
Owls4 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Little OwlAthene noctua
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Western Barn OwlTyto alba
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
Waders26 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- RedshankTringa totanus
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- Little ringed ploverCharadrius dubius
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- Sociable PloverVanellus gregariusCR
- Grey (Red) PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius
Gulls & seabirds31 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Common GullLarus canus
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Northern gannetMorus bassanus
- Iceland GullLarus glaucoides
- Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricilla
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Black-legged kittiwakeRissa tridactylaVU
- Common MurreUria aalge
- Common LoonGavia immer
- Red-throated LoonGavia stellata
- RazorbillAlca torda
- Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus
- FulmarFulmarus glacialis
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- Little AukAlle alle
- Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- Pontic gullLarus cachinnans
- Pomarine SkuaStercorarius pomarinus
- Great skuaStercorarius skua
- Black-throated DiverGavia arctica
- European Storm-PetrelHydrobates pelagicus
- Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
- Roseate TernSterna dougallii
Ducks & geese30 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- Black swanCygnus atratus
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Mandarin DuckAix galericulata
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisVU
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- Common EiderSomateria mollissimaNT
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
- Snow gooseAnser caerulescens
- SmewMergellus albellus
- Red-breasted GooseBranta ruficollisVU
Herons, ibises & grebes13 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
- Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
Storks & cranes1 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
Songbirds72 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Great titParus major
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- European Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Eurasian TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Lesser whitethroatSylvia curruca
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
- Bearded ReedlingPanurus biarmicus
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
- Ortolan buntingEmberiza hortulana
- Isabelline ShrikeLanius isabellinus
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus
- Willow TitPoecile montanus
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus
- WoodlarkLullula arborea
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- European SerinSerinus serinus
- Common RedpollAcanthis flammea
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
Other birds20 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- European SwiftApus apus
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- CootFulica atra
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaNT
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
- Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
- Eurasian HoopoeUpupa epops
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- European NightjarCaprimulgus europaeus
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in January, from March to April and in September.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan7°/2°79 mm
- Feb8°/2°61 mm
- Mar10°/3°57 mm
- Apr13°/5°48 mm
- May17°/8°54 mm
- Jun20°/11°56 mm
- Jul23°/13°58 mm
- Aug22°/13°64 mm
- Sep20°/10°46 mm
- Oct15°/8°86 mm
- Nov11°/5°87 mm
- Dec8°/3°85 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Portsmouth Harbour.
Natural harbour in Hampshire, England
Portsmouth Harbour is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in United Kingdom.
207 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 38,256 open records.
The most recorded are the Common Wood Pigeon, the European Herring Gull and the Black-headed Gull.
28 species come for the summer, 60 for the winter and 1 only pass through.
6 are threatened worldwide, including Grey Plover, Common Pochard and Black-legged kittiwake.
The most species are recorded in January, from March to April and in September.
Get there and watch
- Ellerslie Camping & Caravan Parkcampsite · 3.8 km · 14 within 10 km
- The Royal Maritime Clubplace to stay · 2.4 km · 92 within 10 km
- Gosportnearest town · 3.2 km in a straight line
- Southampton Airport (SOU)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 22 km in a straight lineCar hire at SOU airport (Southampton)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 1observation towers within 6 kmSpinnaker Tower
- 9marked trails within 4 kmAllan King Way, Pilgrims' Trail, Solent Way and 6 more
- 1visitor centres within 6 km
- 6viewpoints within 5 kmPortsdown Hill and 5 more
- 344car parks within 3 km
- 72restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 14campsites within 10 kmEllerslie Camping & Caravan Park, Kingfisher Caravan Park, Stokes Bay Home Park and 11 more
- 92places to stay within 10 kmThe Royal Maritime Club, Ferry House Lodge, Travelodge Portsmouth and 89 more
- bird hides within 6 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Portsmouth Harbour.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas18 mountains within 25 kmWether Down234 m · 18 kmButser Hill270 m · 20 kmWar Down244 m · 20 kmHead Down205 m · 20 kmOakham Hill202 m · 20 kmPidham Hill213 m · 21 kmBow Hill206 m · 22 kmStenbury Down226 m · 25 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.
Other places nearby.
Portsmouth Harbour
United Kingdom
- 76Birdyas Score
- 207Species
- 89Migrants
- 6Threatened
Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay
United Kingdom · 146 km
- 90Birdyas Score
- 349Species
- 186Migrants
- 17Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q7232468) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 38,256 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas, Islandyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
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lakes
Every lake on Earth: water temperature, ice, depth and the shore.Visit mountains
Every summit in 3D: summit weather, the 0 °C line, huts and trails.Visit 
waterfalls
Every waterfall: height, flow month by month and when it roars.Visit 
islands
Every island from the sea up: size, sea temperature, ferries and 3D.Visit 
rivers
Every river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit 
canyons
Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
caves
Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit 
dark skies
Where the night is still dark: the sky of every place, the Milky Way month by month, the Moon, eclipses and auroras.Visit 
viewpoints
Every viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit 
birdwatching
Every bird sanctuary and wetland with the species recorded month by month: who is resident, who comes for the summer, who only passes through.You are here
forests
Every forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit