Summer wildlife spotting

Lin Renvoize, Web editor, Brownsea Island Lin Renvoize Web editor, Brownsea Island

During the summer look out for dragonflies, butterflies and other insects on the heathland. The red squirrels like to keep cool and snooze.

You might spot:

  •     Common and Sandwich terns feeding their chicks on the lagoon

  •     White admirals, purple hairstreaks and other butterflies on the heath

  •     Common spotted and marsh orchids flowering in damper areas

  •     Common lizards basking

Ticks and Lyme disease

In wildlife areas insect bites are common and usually only cause minor irritation. 
 
If you’ve been bitten or stung and there’s a lot of swelling and blistering or other reaction, you are advised to obtain medical advice. 
 
Visitors should be aware that the presence of wild animals, including deer, on the island means some insects called ticks may carry bacteria with cause Lyme disease, which can be transferred to humans when they bite. 
 
Your risk of being bitten can be reduced by the clothing you wear; tucking trousers into socks is a good idea.