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Local Wildlife
We're not all Wildlife Buffs...
...but we are passionate about our nature. In this special corner of England, we are committed to protecting and sharing the wonderful tapestry of our natural environment with everyone. Rich in its diversity, our region allows everyone the opportunity to see wildlife as it was meant to be seen ...in its natural habitat.
Around Newquay you will probably see:
 | | Grey Seals
- Can be found on all rocky shores in the South West. The South West is
the hub of a wheel of seal movements between Wales, Ireland and
Brittany. Britain has the majority of the world’s population of this
animal. The rocks used by Grey Seals to sunbathe and rest are also used
by shorebirds such as the Oyster Catcher and seabirds including
Shags. Seals have their pups on secluded beaches in autumn (keep well
clear!) but can often be seen swimming close to shore or ‘bottling’
throughout the rest of the year.
| | | | |  | | Rock Pools
- Rock pools provide a glimpse into the underwater world, while ledges,
crevices and overhangs provide places for colourful plants and animals
to attach and shelter. At low tide rock pools are self-contained, but
as the tide returns they become part of the sea once more. Remember to
check the tides; take only photos and leave only footprints. Oyster
Catchers and Shags feed or roost on rocky shores and you may see shoals
of Bass or Sand-eels in the sea beyond.
| | | | |  | | Birds
- There are hundreds of bird species in and around Newquay. Most
commonly you will see the gulls, in town and on the beaches.. whereas
out on the rocks you'll see birds such as oystercatchers and shags
looking for food and sunning themselves. There are also several types
of predatory birds such as Buzzards - usually seen soaring
overhead, Kestrels - seen hovering around clifftops, and if you're
really lucky you might see a Sparrow Hawk or even a Peregrine Falcon.
| | | | |  | | Basking Sharks
- You might see these harmless sharks anywhere around the coasts of
South West England. As the second biggest fish in the sea, they feed on
the smallest of all , Krill. The Sharks swim near the surface, mouth
agape, filtering sea water through their gills. Your first sighting is
likely to be of their black dorsal and tail fins. No-one knows where
these huge fish spend the winter but they arrive in South West waters
between May and August.
| | | | |  | | Dolphins
- Pods of Porpoise, Common Dolphin and Bottlenose Dolphin regularly
move through our waters. It’s always exciting seeing these intelligent
and vocal acrobats of the sea. Much work is being done around the South
West to reduce the impact of some fishing methods on their populations.
| | | | |  | | Butterflies -
The South West is arguably the most important area of Britain for sheer
diversity and numbers of butterflies. The mild climate and mixture of
habitats make it incredibly rich, with almost every species of British
butterfly recorded. In addition, warm southerly winds often bring in
exotic migrants such as the Clouded Yellow. Rare Fritillary Butterflies
are seen on our moorland fringes, flitting along bracken rides. The
Painted Lady is commonly seen along the Cornish cliffs. The rarest
butterfly of all, the Large Blue (which became extinct in 1979) has
been successfully re-introduced in five parts of South West England. |
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