Wildife and Bird Watching in Cornwall

Cornwall, including the Scilly Isles, is one of the finest counties for wildlife watching in the UK. A top spot for migrant and unusual birds such as the Balearic Shearwater and Choughs, it is also one of the best for marine wildlife too.

Basking sharks are inrceasingly common, especially between May and October, and bottlenose and Risso's dolphins are often seen, as well as a few Minke whales. Cornwall has more strandings than any other county, and is also prone to 'exotic' finds that have blown across the Atlantic.

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Recent Cornwall news

More Cornwall news

First record of a Dwarf sperm whale in UK waters

A small whale spotted in Mounts Bay next to the Cornish town of Penzance is thoughtto have been a dwarf sperm whale - tropical/subtropical species that has never before been recorded off the UK coast.

21 Fin whales spotted in Irish Sea

One of the largest ever known gatherings of Fin whales in British waters has recently been observed in the Celtic Deep, 50-70 nautical miles off the coasts of north Cornwall and south west Pembrokeshire.

Huge Fin whale strands in Cornwall

The body of a huge whale has been found on the north coast of Cornwall; The Cornwall Wildlife Trust believes it to be a Fin whale, which had been reported floating close to the shore off Pendeen.

Are Sea eagles coming back to Suffolk? Vote on what you think should happen

In any debate about conservation, it is always important to discount 10% of the arguments at either end of the range, as some people will support all conservation, no matter what the cost or practicalities, and others would complain about spending 5 Euros to save the last elephant. Somewhere in the middle is a rational debate and, usually, the right answer.

Basking shark strands in Cornwall

A young basking shark, which stranded on a beach in west Cornwall in August, was the first of its kind in England to be examined by veterinary pathologists. At over four metres long, the fish was so huge it wouldn't fit on the examination table and was too heavy to be weighed on their scales.

Unusual whale and dolphin wash up on the Scilly Isles

Two highly unusual marine mammals, a Sowerby's beaked whale and a Risso's dolphin, have been washed up on the western shores of the Isle of St Agnes within days of one another.

whales/Photograph_of_mass_stranding_by_Rory_Goodall

Mass dolphin stranding in Cornwall - at least 26 dolphins dead

On Monday 9th June, 26 common dolphins stranded and died near St Mawes in Cornwall.

Minke whale stranded in Cornwall

A 7 metre long Minke whale washed up on Porthcothan beach. Minke sighting are unusual at this time of year.

Cirl buntings re-introduced into Cornwall.

The rare Cirl bunting was reduced to just a few hundred pairs in south Devon, but they have now been re-introduced into Cornwall.

Basking shark sighting and a code of conduct

With the recent surge in basking shark sightings off the UK coast, especially Cornwall and the Isle of Man, the Marine Conservation Society has devised a code of conduct as to how to behave when near the sharks, whether in a boat or swimming (not advised). More.

Seashore safaris

Best activity book of the year
Summer is here, we have warm weather, and the beach is beckoning. A swim, build a couple of sandcastles, a bit of beach cricket, but what to do next?

Click rockpooling to read more

The Book of Shells

We've all picked up a shell or two on the beach, but outside the very most common ones, we have no idea what we are handling. The glorious 652 page book will be able to answer that question for you, no matter where in the world you are.
Read full review »

reviews/reviews_2010/great_british_marine_animals

Great British Marine Animals - 3rd Edition

Many people think of the waters around Great Britain as cold, grey and fairly lifeless. This book will put you right (though noone can argue about the water temperature).
Read full review »

Where to see wildlife in Cornwall

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