E Isle of Wight participated in the successful return of a nature-themed initiative last month — and the numbers are now in.

The Great Solent Birdwatch aimed to connect communities with their coastline through birdwatching.

A total of 58 different species of birds were among more than 9,500 spotted, including a kingfisher and short-eared owl.

As well as the Island, the initiative, organised by Bird Aware Solent, featured people in Hill Head near Fareham, Keyhaven in the New Forest and Farlington Marshes in Portsmouth.

Cllr Seán Woodward, chairman of the Partnership for South Hampshire (PfSH), a body that oversees Bird Aware, said: "The Solent is a special place and the birds that migrate here every year play a big part in that.

"If you visit the coast this winter please keep an eye out for the birds and take care not to disturb them."

Bird Aware Solent is a local partnership of conservation groups and Solent councils that aims to reduce disturbance to coastal birds.

The Great Solent Birdwatch will return in 2021, so keep an eye on the Bird Aware Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.