Wildlife watching on Cornwall’s coast this spring

Walking along our dramatic coastline, it’s not uncommon to see a large grey seal sunbathing on a rocky outcrop or bobbing along in the water (also known as ‘bottling’). Keep your eyes peeled for those big, dark eyes and rounded heads peeking above the water’s surface; you’ll be forgiven for mistaking it for a bird.

While grey seals may look chunky and uncoordinated on land, underwater these majestic mammals are elegant swimmers, with an impressive speed that makes them excellent hunters for fish.

Visually, females have darker and lighter markings all over their bodies, while males tend to be more solid in colour. Pups are born pure white (and fluffy!), which they stay for just a couple of weeks before shedding to a darker, more waterproof coat.

Though pups are born in winter, you may still see some youngsters hauled out and about when you wander the quieter beaches at this time of year. Keep your eyes peeled and stay way back to prevent disturbance (you’ll find more wildlife watching tips below!).

Cornwall is home to numerous sea bird species and, in spring, migratory birds will fly back here for the breeding season. It’s a busy (and often noisy!) time of year on the county’s avian calendar.

Some of our favourite birds to spot are puffins, guillemots and razorbills. While puffins are usually less common to see, this year has been a tough one for this small bird, with harsher storms bringing in more numbers than usual (and, sadly, many in dire need of help). 

That said, as the weather gets warmer, these birds can be spotted off the coast of Padstow and around the Isles of Scilly, where they nest and breed before heading back out to sea for summer.

Likewise, keep your eyes peeled for guillemots and razorbills around the Cornish coastline, both similar in their tuxedo colours, but with very different bills. You’ll be able to tell the difference with the razorbill’s much darker plumage, when foraging side-by-side.