Birds

The Isles of Scilly is one of the best places in the UK to observe rare migratory birds, with October attracting hundreds of bird watchers to the islands.

In addition to the migratory birds that flock to the islands, the Isles of Scilly is also home to many resident sea and land breeding birds.

There are at least fifteen species of seabird on Scilly that breed or attempt to breed annually, more than at any other site in England and Wales. The islands are of national importance in their breeding of Storm Petrels, Shags and Roseate Terns.

Birds on the Isles of Scilly are densely populated with farmland passerine species such as Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Wren, Robins and Dunnock who thrive in the mild climate and the farming style on the islands.

In Spring, there is a distinct northward movement of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs with similar numbers of Sedge and Willow Warblers on return migration. Over-shooting southern European migrants such as; Hoopoe, Night and Purple Heron, Golden Oriole, Subalpine Warbler, can also be guests during the spring migration, but the timing is far less predictable than in autumn.

Throughout the spring and summer months, launches provide transport according to set times between the islands to view migrant birds. During the autumn period departure and collection times can be more flexible and may be dictated by the distribution of rare migrants around the islands.

See the Isles of Scilly birds and migrants in their island habitat. Book online for a quick and convenient route to this Island paradise.