Wildlife on Brownsea

Brownsea, Dorset, England South West

Recommendation added: 25/03/2006 18:34
By: jsimons128 (YSUK rating +93)

jsimons128 has been thanked 2 times for this contribution

"For a small island Brownsea presents a great range of habitat-seashore, slat marsh, heath land, coniferous and deciduous woodland, alder Carr, freshwater lakes and a brackish lagoon. This wide variety of habitat is reflected in the richness and diversity of species present in the various seasons. The lagoon supports colonies of sandwich and common terns, and a black-headed gallery, whist oystercatcher's nest around its margins and elsewhere on the islands shoreline. One of the largest heronries in the country is situated in a mature Scots pinewood within the Nature reserve, and little grebes and tufted ducks nest on the freshwater lakes. Shelducks breed on the island, their numbers being greatly augmented by others wintering in the harbour.
Woodcock and nightjars continue to nest in small numbers, but the nightingale in unfortunately no longer numbered amongst the islands breeding species. The lagoon is important as a high tide roost for waders which feed elsewhere in the harbour, and in late summer many species are present-dunlin, curlew sandpipers, bar-tailed and black-tailed godwits, curlews, common and spotted redshank and greenshank, to name only a few.
During the winter months large numbers of teal, widgeon, shelduck, pintail and shovellers use the lagoon as a day refuge, flighting out to feed at dusk, and an increasing number of avocets regularly winter.
Red squirrels, extinct elsewhere in Southern England, survive on Brownsea, free from competition with the introduced grey squirrel. They are shy animals, but are to be found in all the woodland areas. Even if no squirrels are seen, partly-eaten fir cones will betray their presence.
Sika deer, an Asiatic species, were introduced to the island in 1896, and soon afterwards some swarm to the mainland where they formed a feral herd on the heath lands fringing the southern harbour shore. Recently sikas have returned to Brownsea and there is now a small resident population. A less welcome arrival in the American mink, which has on occasion caused devastation to the tern colony.
Common lizards and slow worms occur, but there are no snakes or amphibians. Brownsea has a wealth of insect species, including the beautiful white admiral butterfly. More than 330 kinds of moths and twenty species of dragonflies are recorded from the island."