From the summit of Brown Willy (Bodmin Moor’s highest point), to the shores of Harlyn Bay, and everywhere in between, Cornwall is home to a huge diversity of wildlife on both land, sea and air.
Fresh water streams, salt flats, hedgerows, rocky shores and heathlands provide the perfect habitat and food for many hundreds of birds, critters and sealife.
Here are just some of the fascinating and beautiful creatures that call Cornwall “home”:
Just around the coast towards Padstow, the Camel Estuary, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is the ideal place for spotting the comings and goings of the otters, slipping around playfully in the water.
When the tides are right, you might see what was once the only colony of Little Egrets to be found in Britain.
Osprey and Peregrines are often spotted fishing in the estuary too, and further up the river, you might spot beautiful Kingfishers skilfully catching their supper. Venture to the South Coast, and lucky twitchers might spot gorgeous goldfinches darting here and there.
One of the joys of being so close to the South West Coastal Path, is that within just a short walk, you’ll find yourself in one of the best spots for sealife watching – Trevose Head.
From Trevose Head, it is not uncommon to see basking sharks, dolphins and seals as they perform stunning displays dipping in and out of the water and throught the waves.
If you fancy getting a little closer, a great way to see these wondrous creatures is to take a trip with our friends at Padstow Sealife Safaris. If you’re lucky, you might even encounter whales or sealions on your trip.
Though plentiful in the Cornish waters, it is worth noting that seals are endangered, and if you spot an injured, distressed or abandoned seal, then please to report it to the British Divers Marine Life Rescue on their rescue hotline: 01825 765546.
Inland, if you venture up on to Bodmin Moor, you’ll find wild ponies roaming the hilltops, maintaining bracken and encouraging wildflowers to grow.
You might even spot the tell tale signs of the elusive badger during your daytime travels (they are nocturnal so please try not to disturb them). Occasionally, Cornwall’s County Council Environment and Heritage Service organise badger watches at Tehidy, near Cambourne should you wish to experience them in the wild at night. Find details from the Cornwall Badger Group.
Have you spotted any wildlife in Cornwall that we should know about? Tag us in your pictures on Facebook and Instagram, we love to see them.
