Spring might be the season of renewal and nature coming back to life, but the summer months are still bursting with opportunities to see some incredible wildlife. Shaded green woodlands, blooming meadows or shimmering lakes, wherever you look there’ll be some exciting animals to watch out for.
If you’re in the mood for some wildlife watching on your upcoming summer holidays in the UK then you’ve got a wealth of options. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned wildlife watcher or you just want to go out and appreciate some nature this summer, consider these suggestions for animals to watch for.
The Best UK Wildlife Watching Opportunities To Enjoy This Summer
The New Forest’s wild ponies
Any time of year is arguably a good time to visit the New Forest and look out for its wild ponies. That said, during the summer you’ll get to enjoy sunnier days and the contrast with the coolness beneath the trees.
There are around five thousand ponies who wander wild through the vast expanse of the New Forest, along with deer, donkeys and wild pigs. With so much wildlife, you’re almost guaranteed to get a few glimpses on your visit, if not a closer encounter!
Another benefit to visiting in the summer is the fact that there should be some foals among the forest’s herds. There are few things more adorable than watching young ponies frolicking across the heather or grass.
Cardigan Bay’s dolphins
Off the coast of Wales there’s an entire pod of bottlenose dolphins who call its largest bay home. Cardigan Bay is a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC), aiming to protect its local wildlife and landscapes.
The Cardigan Bay pod is the largest bottlenose dolphin population in Europe, so there’s no better place to go looking for the playful critters. Boat tours depart from towns like New Quay and Aberystwyth, so there are plenty of opportunities to head out onto the waves in search of some leaping dolphins.
The calmer waters and longer daylight hours of the summer months help to improve the chances of sighting the dolphins, as well as some of the other marine life that visit the bay seasonally.
Yorkshire’s seabird colonies
If you’d rather stick on dry land, summer is the ideal time to head out to the cliffs in search of seabirds. This time of year is when many species will flock to the UK’s coastline to breed and raise their chicks, so you should be well occupied figuring out which ones you’re seeing!
Flamborough Head in Yorkshire is a particular hotspot for seabirds, with tens of thousands of birds descending on the cliffs from May to July. Here you’ll see various gulls, auks, gannets and puffins, which should be enough to satisfy even the most discerning birdwatchers.
Just be warned that with so many birds in residence, you’ll be treated to a real cacophony of birdcalls while you’re there!
Cornwall’s seals
Grey seals can be found resting on Cornish beaches throughout the year, with some isolated coves and beaches playing home to resident populations.
There are dedicated boat tours that will ferry wildlife watchers around to a few different spots, ready to catch a peak of seals lounging on the sands or playing in the surf. Otherwise, you can take a walk up to Godrevy Point, where you can look down from the clifftops at a herd of seals on the beach below.
If you’re very lucky, you might even encounter a friendly seal in the waters when you’re out swimming at a Cornish beach.
Conclusion
While you’re enjoying some sunny summery days you could encounter some of the UK’s array of exciting wildlife. From seals and dolphins to ponies and seabirds, there are so many different animals to go outside and observe on your summer holidays.
Which of these UK wildlife-watching opportunities are you most excited to experience this summer, and why?
*Disclosure: Collaborative Post
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you all ❤️
Franca 💋
PIN FOR LATER:
Leave a Reply