Marine Life & Coastal Wildlife
Wild encounters on the South West coast — from seals to sandpipers, rock pools to open water.
What's best right now
Spring (Mar–May)
Little Egrets breeding, sandpipers arriving, seals active
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Calm seas, rock pools teeming, moon jellies in sheltered bays
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Migration peaks, porpoises visible, Turnstones arriving
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Seals hauled out, seabirds abundant, winter visitors settled
Marine Life
Explore the coastal wildlife of the South West.
Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
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Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
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Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegus
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Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
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Harbour Porpoise
Phocoena phocoena
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Grey Seal
Halichoerus grypus
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Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
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Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
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Shore Crab
Carcinus maenas
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Moon Jellyfish
Aurelia aurita
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Basking Shark
Cetorhinus maximus
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Blue Shark
Prionace glauca
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Common Octopus
Octopus vulgaris
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Conger Eel
Conger conger
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Thornback Ray
Raja clavata
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Blonde Ray
Raja brachyura
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Undulate Ray
Raja undulata
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Tope
Galeorhinus galeus
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Smooth-hound Shark
Mustelus mustelus
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Porbeagle Shark
Lamna nasus
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Explore our complete coastal guide with tide awareness and coastal safety guidance.