Home > About Scilly ... your guide from the official Isles of Scilly Tourism website > Wild and Wonderful

Wild and Wonderful

The islands' maritime microclimate makes it a haven for unusual flora and fauna. Frost and snow occur extremely seldom, which enables gardeners to import exotic species from all over the globe, making the average walk in the islands a voyage of discovery past plants from the Canaries, South Africa, South America, Australia and New Zealand. The range of plant species contributes to the diet of some unusual airborne visitors, as migrant birds from East and West alight on these tiny specks of granite in the northern Atlantic.

Fields and hedgerows blaze with colour throughout the year in the Isles of Scilly. Bright pink South African proteas dazzle in May, wild flowers are on parade from June onwards and beautiful agapanthuses around each corner make Scilly a wildlife lover's paradise. October brings scented narcissi with the fields turning to gold and white before the arrival of the daffodils early in the New Year.

October is possibly the best time to see migratory birds in Scilly. The Red Breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler, Wryneck, Richard's Pipit, Pectoral Sandpiper and Lapland Bunting often make an appearance. Rare migrants include the Red-Eyed Vireo, an uncommon bird in Britain but one that turns up occasionally in the Isles of Scilly.

During the first two weeks in October there are evening 'bird logs' and pelagic trips. Birders from all over the country come to Scilly to meet, hoping for new 'ticks', and always glad to catch up with friends. This is an excellent time to visit even if you simply want to watch the watchers!

Scilly also has its own species of shrew. The Scilly Shrew has a particularly long nose and can often be found in hedgerows, another example of the rich biodiversity that the islands enjoy.

Underwater Scilly reveals another world. Kelp forests are dynamic and productive ecosystems providing a fantastic marine habitat for a huge range of species. Wrecks and reefs provide a spectacular backdrop for jewel anemones and many different types of fish. Here again, the absence of pollution and the cold, clear water adds to the attractions of the Isles of Scilly.

Throughout the year the islands are rich in wildlife and frequent visitors are dolphins and porpoises. Basking sharks also put in an appearance from time to time and during settled weather sunfish may be seen paddling quietly along on the surface.

Our latest underwater surveys have uncovered a range of rare sea creatures ... Divers from across the South West have June 19-27 surveying the reefs and tidal channels around the Isles of Scilly, including sites that had never previously been dived. The Seasearch surveys form part of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust's Marine Biodiversity Project which aims to increase knowledge of nationally important marine habitats beneath Scilly's seas. Follow this link and read all about the discoveries!