East Meon is well placed for anyone interested in birding. The green woodpecker regularly feeds on the lawn. Pheasants roost in the garden and red-legged partridge is often seen.

Old Winchester Hill (3 miles) is in the parish. Passage migrants are often observed here on their way to breeding grounds in the north.

The Queen Elizabeth Country Park (5 miles) nestles amongst the South Downs and has woodland and downland birds as well as a good information centre.

The best locations for winter waders are Langstone harbour and Farlington marshes (15 miles). There are also magnificent flocks of Brent geese and a large number of other wildfowl.

Waggoners Wells (12 miles) has a sizeable area of woodland with many bird species. Nearby is Ludshott Common, a splendid heath. In the summer, hobbies may be seen as well as nightjar, woodlark and treepipit. A rich assemblage of birds including woodcock, lesser spotted woodpecker, nightingale, redstart, willow warbler and willow tit can be viewed in the woodlands.

The New Forest (50 miles) is one of the finest nature reserves in the south of England. The northerly part around Cadnum can be reached in 50 minutes via the M3 and M27. The ancient woodlands are a stronghold of the hawfinch-firecrest and sistin also breed here. Buzzard and hobbies are commonly seen and the Dartford warbler may be observed.

Finally there is Selborne (12 miles) where Gilbert White, the father of British ornithology lived and wrote his classic text "The Natural History of Selborne". There is a museum which exhibits noteworthy aspects of his life and many interesting birds can be seen on Selborne Common which is an area of heath and woodland above the village.