Fort Victoria
Fort Victoria, just West of Yarmouth, looks out over the Western Solent close to its narrowest point. Although mainly visited to watch seabirds, there are also walks from the Fort with woodland birds and migrants in Spring and Autumn.
Parking and amenities
From Yarmouth take the A3054 west for about half a mile then turn right into Westhill Lane (signposted Fort Victoria Country Park). There is plenty of free parking at the Fort at the end of the road. A few benches are available and the Fort provides cover from inclement weather. A cafe is open during the summer months and Bank Holidays, and public toilets are available on site.
What to look out for - Calendar
Spring (March - June)
This site can be productive for seabird migration in spring when some birds move through the Solent rather than skirt the southern coast of the island including common scoter, dark-bellied brent goose, black, common and sandwich terns, Mediterranean and little gulls, great, pomarine and Arctic skuas, and waders, in particular bar-tailed godwit, whimbrel and knot. Whilst morning watches are typically the most productive, evenings can also be good for certain species such as black tern.
Autumn (July - mid November)
Seabird passage and coastal movements including red-breasted merganser, common scoter, gannet, fulmar, shag, cormorant, guillemot and razorbill, great and Arctic skuas, little gull, and yellow-legged gulls, kittiwake, terns, red-throated diver and great northern diver and turnstone often frequent the shoreline. The site is also excellent for visible migration of passerines (Hirundines, pipits, wagtails, redwing, fieldfare and finches), and occasional passing raptors.
Winter (mid November - February)
The site is quieter during the winter months, but can produce coastal movements of seabirds including red-throated diver, gannet, guillemot, razorbill and common scoter.
Rarities
Fort Victoria has produced a number of rare and scarce birds over the years including pallid harrier, Sabine‘s gull and velvet scoter. It is also particularly worth checking after rough weather in late Autumn and Winter when storm driven birds can be blown into the Solent including scarce species such as Leach’s Petrel.
Images
Sandwich tern. © Andy Butler
Common scoters. © Andy Butler
Guillemot. © Tracey Jolliffe
Useful links and further reading
View the current weather forecast for Fort Victoria
Fort Victoria Country Park Website