A Coast and Countryside guide on local wildlife you can spot across the South West this spring time, offering tips on when and where to see them and how to look after the wildlife on our doorstep…
Our dramatic coastlines and sweeping countryside offers some truly spectacular wildlife encounters, and spring in Devon and Cornwall signals nature all around the British isles waking up. As the days stretch longer and the temperatures begin to climb, hedgerows buzz with life, migratory birds return, and both coast and countryside burst into bloom.
Whether you’re a seasoned nature-lover or just discovering the joys of wildlife watching, spring is the perfect time to grab your binoculars and head outdoors. In this guide, we’ll explore the best wildlife to spot across the South West, offer tips on when and where to see them, and share how you can give back to the nature that makes these counties so special, keep your eyes peeled and enjoy the read starting with the Coast…
Coastal Wildlife in Devon and Cornwall
The wild Atlantic winds bring with them more than sea spray and dramatic skies – our coastlines are teeming with life. You’ll need good eyes, a little patience, and ideally a pasty in hand (it helps…)
1. Puffins
The ‘clowns of the sea’, with their brightly coloured beaks and comical strut, puffins make their homes in cliff burrows. Head to Lundy off North Devon between April and September for your best chance to spot them. Did you know ‘Lundy’ is Norse for Puffin Island? Coincidence? Absolutely not.
North Devon: Apart from Lundy Island you can also head out on boat trips from Ilfracombe or Bideford are your best bet to see these adorable “clowns of the sea” nesting in their cliff burrows.
Cornwall: While not as large a colony as Lundy, boat trips around Mouls Island, just off the coast near Padstow, can sometimes offer glimpses of puffins during their breeding season.
2. Adders
Look for the distinct zig-zag pattern along their backs. These sun-seekers can often be found basking along the South west coast paths and rocky outcrops. They’re shy, so keep your distance, but feel smug if you spot one…
Cornwall: Explore the South West Coast Path, especially along the rugged sections of The Lizard Peninsula, around St Agnes Head, and the wild landscapes near Land’s End. Sunny banks with dry heathland are your best bet.
Devon: Exmoor National Park offers good adder habitat, particularly in the heather-clad areas. Keep an eye out on sunny days along trails.
3. Fulmars
These gull-like birds are albatross relatives and nest on narrow cliff ledges. Their stiff-winged gliding style and tubenose make them stand out from the crowd.
Cornwall: The north coast is fantastic! Check out the cliffs around Hell’s Mouth near Godrevy, West Pentire Head near Newquay, the dramatic scenery around Tintagel Castle, and the cliffs below the lead mine car park at Pentire Point near Polzeath. Don’t forget Land’s End and the Lizard Peninsula.
North Devon: The towering cliffs around Hartland Point and the unique landscape of the Valley of Rocks near Lynton are excellent places to spot fulmars nesting and fishing.
4. Sea Pinks / Thrift
They are cotton candy blooms hugging the cliffside, sea pinks are iconic and hardy, You’ll find these beautiful pink hugging almost every clifftop in both Cornwall and North Devon during May and June. Just wander along the coast path and admire their resilience!
Last week i noticed them for the first time this year so head on out this April and you’ll be sure to notice them and they make for a great sunset photo if you capture them in the foreground!
5. Ospreys
On layover from West Africa, Ospreys pass through from March to May. Look out for them diving for fish with their long wings and powerful talons.
Keep your eyes peeled along the River Torridge estuary and the surrounding areas between March and May for these magnificent fish-hunters on their migration through. They can also be spotted rarely throughout the warmer season around the coast of Cornwall but you’ll have to be fortunate to spot them!
6. Grey Seals
Keep an eye on the waves and rocky inlets – they’ll often pop their curious heads up and sometimes sleep upright in the water.
Cornwall: Godrevy Point, Mutton Cove, Polzeath, Kynance Cove, Looe Island, and the waters around St Ives Bay are prime seal-spotting locations. Boat trips from places like Padstow and Newquay can get you closer.
North Devon: Explore the rocky inlets and calmer bays along the coast. Please keep your distance be sure not to disturb these guys.
7. Dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins often make appearances, especially in calmer weather. Book a boat trip or simply scan the sea from a cliff edge.
- Cornwall: Boat trips from Falmouth, Newquay, and St Ives Bay are often successful. Land-based viewing from headlands like St Agnes Head, Trevose Head, and around Land’s End can be rewarding in calm weather.
- North Devon: Keep an eye on the sea from headlands like Baggy Point and Hartland Point, especially during calmer periods, you can ride a sea safari out of Ilfracombe.
8. Rock Pipits
These tiny brown birds flutter low across rocks and beaches, singing as they go. You’ll often see them darting around seaweed and rock pools along the rocky shores and beaches in Devon and Cornwall.
9. Gannets
These elegant white seabirds dive like missiles! Spot them off the coast of Padstow or Hartland Point, and Land’s End and Trevose Head (Cornwall) offer good vantage points, especially during feeding frenzies.
Head out on a boat trip or sea safari and you’ll likely come across them fishing out at sea with their distinctive yellow wings.
10. Choughs
The red-beaked, red-legged emblem of Cornwall itself! These rare birds are slowly making a comeback. Your best chance to see these iconic red-beaked birds is on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall.
Also look along other rugged Cornish cliffs like those around Land’s End and St Agnes Head. But they have been making their way around the coast and can be seen as close as Polly joke beach near Newquay.
11. Harbour Porpoises
Smaller than dolphins and more elusive, these gentle creatures are often seen surfacing quietly in calm bays.
North Devon: Look for them in the calmer bays along the North Devon coast, hop on a seasafari out of Ilfracombe for your best chances of seeing them.
Cornwall: They can also be seen off the Cornish coast, but sightings often require calm conditions and a keen eye, sometimes they follow the small fishing boats into harbours so keep an eye out for fisherman offloading their scraps, you don’t know who will be scavenging.
12. common Terns
Often seen flitting just above the water, diving dramatically for fish. Check estuaries like the Camel Estuary (Cornwall) and the Taw-Torridge Estuary (North Devon), as well as any coastal lagoons or marshlands from late spring.
Countryside Wildlife in Devon and Cornwall
As you head inland, the world softens. Rolling meadows, ancient woodlands, and sleepy lanes come alive in spring. Here’s what to watch for among the blossom and buzz…
1. Lambs
Everywhere! You’ll see Tiny, woolly, springy icons of British countryside joy. March to May is peak lambing season – respect fences, and admire from afar.
Please keep your dogs on leads away from livestock especially pregnant ewes and lambs.
2. Swallows
The acrobats of the insect world. They return from Africa each spring, darting and diving through the air, building nests in old barns and under eaves for these returning migrants.
You’ll find them nesting in farm buildings., outhouses and barns.
3. Bluebells
Woodland carpets of violet-blue from late March through April. Look for them in places like:
Cornwall: Explore the stunning displays at Enys Gardens near Penryn, Tehidy Woods Trelissick Garden near Feock, Lanhydrock and the various woodlands managed by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
North Devon: Arlington Court Woodland, sections of Exmoor National Park woodlands, Haldon Forest and smaller local woods can offer beautiful bluebell carpets.
4. Bumblebees
New queens emerge, buzzing from flower to flower, sipping nectar and scoping out nest sites. Lungwort and gorse are early-season faves.
Found everywhere there are flowering plants.
5. Marsh Fritillary Butterflies
Spotted from May to June, these checkerboard beauties are rare but found in specific wet meadow areas within the Torridge Valley and parts of Exmoor and Cornwall.
Certain damp grassland habitats managed by conservation organisations may support them too.
6. Greater Horseshoe Bat
One of Britain’s largest bats – look for them around dusk in the South Hams and North Devon, often silhouetted against the last light.
The caves and woodlands of Devon and Cornwall provide habitat. Look for them at dusk.
7. Roe Deer
Shy and elegant, they’re best spotted early morning or evening.
Listen for their dog-like bark echoing through the trees. Can be found in woodlands and along field margins and edges.
8. Nuthatches & Woodpeckers
Nuthatches dart down tree trunks, while great spotted woodpeckers hammer out territory beats.
Spring is prime nesting season for both birds, and both equally elusive.
9. Otters
Difficult to spot but worth the wait. Look for signs – spraints (droppings), paw prints, and smooth paths near rivers.
Look along the banks of rivers and streams. The River Torridge and River Taw in North Devon, and various rivers in Cornwall, offer potential sightings. Halsdon (Devon Wildlife Trust reserve near the North Devon border) is a great spot with a hide.
10. Muntjac Deer
Originally from Asia, now well-established in the South West. These small, barking deer are most active at dawn and dusk and are getting more and more common around rural areas.
You can often hear these strange looking mammals before you spot them.
11. Wild Ponies
Exmoor Ponies
With their thick coats, mealy muzzles, and stocky build, Exmoor ponies are one of the oldest native breeds in the world and ideally suited to the often harsh conditions of the moor.
Where to see them: Head to areas like Dunkery Beacon, Winsford Hill, and Tarr Steps. You’ll often spot small herds grazing among the gorse and heather.
Dartmoor Ponies
Slightly more varied in colour and shape due to centuries of crossbreeding, Dartmoor ponies are equally at home among granite tors and grassy mires.
Where to see them: Try Haytor, Bellever Forest, or around Postbridge. You’ll often find them lounging by the roadside or silhouetted against the sky.
12. Red Kites
Once a rare sight, these elegant birds of prey are now soaring in increasing numbers.
Look for their forked tails and graceful gliding around North Devon.
How to Care for Wildlife this Spring time…
While you’re out spotting, why not help too? Here’s how to be the countryside hero your local wildlife never knew it needed:
- Leave shallow dishes of water for hedgehogs and other thirsty nighttime wanderers.
- Plant wildflowers – they’re nature’s all-you-can-eat buffet for pollinators.
- Feed the birds, but clean your feeders weekly to prevent disease.
- Avoid disturbing nests, especially on footpaths and bridleways.
- Keep dogs under control, particularly near livestock and ground-nesting birds.
- Whilst Dartmoor and Exmoor Ponies may seem tame, both are semi-wild and managed by local pony keepers. Don’t feed or pet them—it can make them ill and encourages dangerous behaviour. Admire from a distance and always give them space, especially when foals are present.
So there you go – a whirlwind dive into what spring looks, smells, and sounds like in Devon and Cornwall. Whether you’re following the coast or wandering inland, now’s the time to soak up nature’s grand spring show.
Thank you for reading.
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