There are several Common Seals that live in the Solent but there is also a resident colony in the harbour, (hence they are often called Harbour Seals), where there are lots of sandy and rocky spots for them to rest. There’s also plenty for them to eat! They like a wide variety of fish, including herring, sand eels, whiting, salmon, flatfish and crustaceans. Chichester Harbour Water Tours offer specialised seal watching tours. Other mammals in the harbour include water voles, which are rare and have experienced rapid decline in recent years, so the Harbour Conservancy and others are working hard to protect them.
The majority of deer that you see here are Roe deer, easily distinguishable by their while bottoms. Rutting season is during mid-July to mid-August, when the stags can become aggressive and territorial. They usually won’t approach you but just keep an eye on your dogs and don’t let them approach or chase the deer. What’s remarkable about the Roe Deer is that even though mating takes place in July and August, the fertilised egg remains almost dormant in the female until January, when it starts to grow. Perhaps it’s to avoid the prospect of a harsh winter for babies, who then arrive in May and June. Photograph © Meerabai Kings