Below is a guide to marine animals that can be spotted in these waters. It is generally true to say that the further west in Cornwall you are, the better the wildlife sightings particularly with regard to some of the cetaceans and certainly basking sharks. It's important to remember though that wildlife is wildlife and you cannot expect to see certain animals just because you desperately want them to be there! The variety and quantity of wildilfe sightings depends on so many things - the amount of prey around, time of year, temperature, wind and tide conditions as well as, of course, a bit of plain good luck! Our Sightings page gives you an accurate impression of what we see and how frequently.
Cetacean Species |
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Atlantic Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) Found along the west and north coasts of Britain round as far as the Farne Islands. The British Isles is home to 1/2 to 2/3 of the worlds population. They are the largest seal to be found in British waters, and males can weigh over 300kg. We see them hauled out on the rocks at low tide or swimming and bottling. A real crowd-pleaser! |
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Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
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Short-Beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) These are often found in large groups as we get further offshore especially in late summer/early autumn, though they do sometimes come closer in. A medium-sized, streamlined dolphin with beautiful hourglass patterning on its flanks. Often very exuberant and playful and sometimes groups will bowride the boat. |
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Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Seen as two distinct types described as inshore and offshore pods (most sightings are of the inshore type). A large cetacean up to 4 metres though more frequently about 3 metres in length. Generally quite sociable and easy to spot/watch. Can be very playful! There is speculation that the ones we see in Cornwall are a breakaway group from the resident Cardigan Bay common bottlenose dolphins. |
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Rissos Dolphin (Grampus griseus) A medium sized dolphin with distinctive pale colouring and scratched appearance as they age. Between 2.6-4 metres in length. Often spy hop but seldom bowrides - however in the summer of 2007 when we saw these often, the youngsters did often interact and socialise with the boat. Recognisable from their tall centrally placed dorsal fin. A real treat to see! |
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Northern Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) The smallest and most abundant of the rorqual family (relatives of blue, fin, sei and humpback whales). A baleen whale between 7-10 metres in length. Sightings are mostly of the whale diving although sometimes they can be curious about boats and will circle round the investigating for a while and even spyhop. Spectacular views can be seen of them lunge feeding at the surface. |
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Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) Basking Sharks visit our coastal waters in large numbers in the spring and early summer, although they can be sighted year round. There can sometimes be gatherings of 100's of sharks and fins as far as the eye can see. They are the second largest fish in the sea and it is believed they can grow up to 11 metres. Despite their size they are harmless plankton feeders using gill rakers to feed. |
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Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) Bizarre looking circular summer visitors usually found in our waters from July to October, though in 2006 they were recorded in every month of the year. This is the worlds largest species of bony fish (sharks have cartilage skeletons) - its generally recognised at a distance by its fin waving as it basks on the waters surface. Can grow enormously large, though the ones we see are usually a maximum of 1½ metres in diameter. |
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Common Gull (Larus canus) This smaller gull is not so Common in the England as most the UK's population are found in Scotland. It is much better at diving and swimming than other gulls but is still a scavenger like most gulls. A social bird that will work with other common gulls to deal with predators. |
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Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides ) This gull has a more free graceful flight than other larger gulls and is sometimes called white winged gulls for obvious reasons. This gull is most likely to be seen in winter time. |
Corys Shearwater (Colonectris Diomedea) Larger and more heavily-built than the Manx shearwater. The upperparts are brown and the underparts are very white with a neat rim of brown. |
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Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus Griseus) Again, larger than the Manx shearwater, with very dark upperparts and a silvery sheen underneath. |
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Arctic Skua (Stercorarius Parasiticus) A small skua with a fast, falcon-like flight. Has double tail streamers. Chases and harasses other seabirds until they drop their prey. |
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Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius Pomarinus) Nearly as big as a herring gull. Adults have long, spoon-shaped tail streamers, and a yellow band around its neck. Will chase other birds until they drop their food and even sometimes force their victims into the sea to drown them. |
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Great Skua (Catharacta Skua) Our largest skua, bulkier and heavier-looking than a herring gull. Shorter tail than other skuas and no streamers. This is the terrifying pirate of the seabirds - very aggressive and will chase birds as large as gannets, and even attack humans if they stray near to nesting sites. Kills birds such as puffins and sometimes species as large as geese. |
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Oyster Catcher (Haematopus Ostralegus) A stocky, black and white wader with a large bright orange bill, which it uses to dig in mud and also to prise open shellfish, so is very adaptable. Easily recognisable from its marked plumage and the excitable, piping racket it makes. |
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Turnstone (Arenaria Interpres) Appears on west Cornish coasts in the late summer and stay around for several months - some take up residence in Penzance harbour. A stocky little wader with colourful mottled plumage (browns, oranges, whites and blacks). Busily searches for food by turning over rocks, in tame little groups. Very cute! |
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Curlew (Numenius Arquata) A large brownish-mottled wader with a very long downwards-curving beak, by which it is easy to identify. The other very distinctive characteristic is its bubbling evocative call. Found round coasts near estuaries and marshes round here. |
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Whimbrel (Numeneus Phaoepus) About a third the size of the curlew with a shorter, straighter bill, but with very similar markings. Has a similar bubbling call. |
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Little Egret (Egretta Garzetta) A recent immigrant to the British Isles. A graceful, pure white heron with a slender black beak, and long black legs. Mostly seen wading on its own or flying with its legs trailing behind. Sometimes comes into our area from nearby marshes and estuaries. |
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Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus Fulicarius) A small sized wader is usually seen in late summer and autumn off the Cornich coast. Sightings often follow stormy conditions. When we see them they are often feeding on plankton and they maybe in the vicinity of feeding basking sharks. |
Great Northern Diver (Gavia Immer) Large, heavy looking diver with a dagger like bill and a thick, dark neck around which there is a black and white striped ring. Sometimes seen in Mounts Bay. |
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Sanderling (Caldris Minuta) A small, plump energetic little wader that likes sandy beaches and estuaries. The birds we see are migrants passing through although some birds will stay in the UK all summer (picture below). |
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Mute Swan (Cygnus Olor) The British Isles year-round and most familiar swan, and one of our largest birds. Adults are white with an orange and black beak. Usually choose a lifelong partner. Often seen in and around the harbours at Penzance and Newlyn. |
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Peregrine Falcon (Falco Peregrinus) The fastest creature in the world on land, sea or in the air. A large and powerful falcon with pointed wings and yellow talons. Numbers are increasing after years of persecution. Seeing one catch a pigeon is a memorable experience. |
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Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) The chough is making a slow, but successful comeback in Cornwall after being wiped out. A beautiful glossy-black member of the crow family with a bright orange bill and legs and prominent finger-like primary feathers. Its call is a raucous, recognisable cheeooww! noise. |
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Raven (Corvus corax) The largest member of the crow family and a quite magnificent bird. Recognisable from its sheer size (bigger than a buzzard), its broad wings with the primary feathers easily visible, and its deep, croaking call. Tumbles acrobatically round the sky. |
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Buzzard (Buteo Buteo) One of our most common birds of prey. Often seen in twos and threes floating above clifftops, catching thermals on their broad rounded wings, which are brown and white viewed from underneath. Often the first sign of them will be the plaintive mew that seems to float down from the sky. |