Natural Environment - Wildlife

Wherever you are in the countryside of North Devon, experiencedevon’s tailor-made itineraries will help you discover some of the best loved British animals, birds and flowers: rabbits, hares, dormice, foxes, badgers, ponies, red deer, seals and otters are all here. Bats, bugs, lampreys, and snakes even. Some are difficult to find without local knowledge. Together they add up to a precious wildlife heritage and add immeasurably to enjoyment of the wonderful scenery within this area of outstanding natural beauty.

The richness of North Devon’s wildlife has been championed historically by Henry Williamson’s books including ‘Tarka the Otter’, a species with healthy and stable numbers along the Taw and Torridge Rivers. And until recently the BBC’s ‘Spring Watch’ hosted by Kate Humble and Bill Oddie was based near Hatherleigh in the south of our region and Johnny Kingdom’s ‘A Year on Exmoor' BBC series is set in the north east in Exmoor National Park.

North Devon has 31 native mammals, 243 different species of bird, 100 species of nesting birds, 1751 species of insects and the locality claims the most wild flowers in the country, with over 450 different species in the Braunton Burrows alone with the nearby medieval great field and historic reclaimed saltmarsh contributing their shares. Lundy Island is a haven for wildlife and is England's only marine nature reserve which can boast the biggest seabird colony in the south of England. There are about 35 different species of bird that breed on the Island from ravens to wrens. It is famous for its auks and other seabirds which breed there in good numbers in the summer. Migration time in spring and autumn is popular with birders hoping to see the migrant birds that drop in to the island to rest and refuel, including many rarities.
 
North Devon, with its small scale agriculture, and rural communities, is good for resident birds of the countryside and gardens, and their song can be heard throughout the year, from the skylark high in the summer sky to the whistle of widgeon on the Estuary in winter. Amongst the most colourful resident birds to look out for are the bullfinch, kingfisher and the green and great spotted woodpeckers. Amongst the birds of prey - the peregrine falcon, kestrel and buzzard are regularly seen. In spring and summer the dawn chorus can be quite over-overwhelming.

Winter is a good time to observe birds on the Estuary where over-wintering waders, duck and geese congregate, and plovers in their thousands give spectacular aerial displays. Spoonbills, though few in number, are a main attraction as this one of few places in the country to see them. One of the greatest sights, at this time of year, is that of thousands of starlings, in synchronised flight at dusk, before roosting under the ancient arches of Bideford Long Bridge.

- Written in collaboration with Paula Ferris