Wildlife Watching

Nature

The Isle of Wight's island ecology supports a distinctive range of wildlife, including several species that have become rare or extinct on the adjacent mainland. The island's most famous resident is the red squirrel, which thrives here in the absence of the grey squirrel that has displaced it across most of England. An estimated 3,000 red squirrels live on the island, and they can be seen in woodlands, parks, and gardens across the island, particularly in autumn when they are busy gathering nuts.

The island's marine wildlife is equally impressive. Bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises are regularly seen in the waters around the island, particularly off the south and west coasts. Grey seals haul out on the rocks at the base of the cliffs and in sheltered coves, and can often be seen from the coastal path. The Solent's busy shipping lanes do not deter the marine mammals, and sightings from the ferry crossings are not uncommon.

The island's bird life is exceptional, with over 300 species recorded annually. The estuaries and marshes of Newtown, Brading, and the Yar support large populations of wading birds and wildfowl, while the cliffs hold breeding peregrine falcons and the offshore waters see migrating seabirds in spring and autumn. The chalk downland supports species that have declined on the mainland, including skylarks, yellowhammers, and corn buntings.

The island's insect life includes several rarities. The Glanville fritillary butterfly, found in Britain only on the Isle of Wight's south coast, flies in May and June on the crumbling clay cliffs between Ventnor and Compton. The island also has strong populations of other butterflies including the marbled white, chalkhill blue, and Adonis blue on the chalk downland. Dragonflies and damselflies are abundant around the island's ponds and marshes.

For organised wildlife watching, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust manages several reserves on the island, and guided walks and events are offered throughout the year. The RSPB manages Brading Marshes, and the National Trust's properties at Newtown and along the coast provide further wildlife watching opportunities. The island's compact size means that a day's wildlife watching can take in coastal, woodland, downland, and wetland habitats without covering large distances.