Wildlife watching on Brownsea Island

Fungi found growing from a log at Polesden Lacey — Bonnet Mycena fungi, Brownsea Island, Dorset. | © Chris Davies

There is plenty of wildlife to see all year round on the island and things change with the seasons. Take a walk through the woodland or down to the lagoon, and don’t forget your binoculars.

Autumn is a magical time of the year on the island.

Look out for red squirrels, fungi and bird spectacles.

Things to see and do on Brownsea Island this autumn

There's something for everyone to enjoy on the island, from self-led trails to guided walks, with plenty of wildlife watching opportunities. Brownsea Island is very special in the autumn, with the leaves on the trees changing colour and red squirrels at their most active searching for food and stashing it away for the winter months.

Autumn wildlife

At this time of the year it isn't just the leaves that change colour, the squirrels do too. So if you do spot a squirrel you may notice that their tails take on a darker tone, almost black. The red squirrels are more active in the autumn and are often seen on the ground gathering nuts for their winter stores.

There are free twice daily red squirrel walks running from 14 September to 24 October at 10.45am and 1.15pm. These walks are subject to volunteer availability, please check with Reception on 01202 492164. There are also exclusive red squirrel walks with cream tea at Brownsea Castle in November, more information can be found on our events page.

You may also hear the eerie whistling call of the resident sika deer, who will be entering rutting season, this species were brought to the island from Japan in the 19th century. Many of the deer escaped from Brownsea after a terrible fire in 1934 and can now be found all across the Isle of Purbeck.

Fantastic fungi

There are many different species of fungi on the island, particularly in the woodlands. They pop up in all shapes, sizes and colours species include, common earth balls, shaggy ink caps and parasol mushrooms. Don't forget to look up and scan the tree trucks to see if you can spot some of the bracket fungi too. There are two fungi walks on the island this autumn on 27 September and 11 October.

Birdwatching on the lagoon

Poole Harbour is one of the best birdwatching sites in England, with over 20,000 birds arriving to take advantage of the harbour’s sheltered conditions, warmer climate and abundance of food.

Many of these birds head to Brownsea lagoon, look out for a selection of wading birds, including black-tailed godwit, redshank and large numbers of avocet.

Another spectacular bird to see is the spoonbill, which can often be seen in groups feeding or sleeping on the far side of the water.

The various hides clustered around the edge of the lagoon on the Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve offer a great perch to watch all the comings and goings of the various birds.

There is often a volunteer stationed in the first hide with a telescope attached to a screen, giving visitors some great close-up views of the birds. Learn more on a guided bird walk on 20 September and 18 October.

Book a walk here

A white spoonbill in water with a long black spoon-shaped bill with a yellow tip and long black legs. — A spoonbill wading through water, Brownsea Island, Dorset. | © National Trust Images/ Hanne Siebers

Please do not feed the squirrels

Please refrain from bringing food to the island for the squirrels. It's important for them to forage naturally, and excess food can attract rats. We appreciate your cooperation. Thank you

Red squirrels

Spotting seasonal behaviour

The red squirrel breeding season starts with mating chases in January, and a first litter of three to four babies, which are called kittens, is usually born in March. So you may be lucky enough to spot a young kit as they gain independence as the season goes on as they are weaned after 10 weeks, though some may remain in the drey until Autumn.
If a female squirrel gains sufficient food over the summer months, she will have a second litter in July/August. So if you spot a squirrel busily gathering leaves and climbing trees, it may be a new mum.
Much like our Scouting and Guiding friends on the island, a squirrel’s motto could well be, ‘be prepared’. Squirrels start stockpiling for winter early, so later in the summer and through autumn, you may catch a squirrel beginning the act of ‘scatter hoarding’.
This is a process that splits the risk of losing their stash to another squirrel for example, by stashing their food in several scattered hordes. This may include seeds, nuts, tree bark, leaves, pinecones, buds, acorns, fungi, fruit, insects, and more.

A close up of a red squirrel on a branch on the floor of woodland on Brownsea Island, Dorset — A red squirrel exploring the woodland floor at Brownsea Island, Dorset | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

An endangered species

Red squirrels are an endangered species in the UK due to the loss of their woodland habitat and the introduction of the American grey squirrel.

While both species of squirrel have a similar role in the ecosystem in that they are small woodland mammals that spread the seeds of trees, red squirrels are a particularly important asset in the regeneration of pine woodlands.

Reds are specially adapted to feed on the seeds in pine cones and greys tend to favour broadleaf woodland where many other animals can do the job of spreading the seeds, such as birds.

If red squirrels became extinct in the UK, it would not only have a negative impact on our pine woodland regeneration but we would also lose one of our most iconic native mammals.

When to see red squirrels on Brownsea

Red squirrels are most active in spring and autumn, so a visit during those seasons is the most likely to be rewarded with sightings.

They're usually spotted during the quieter times of the day, so a good time to spot them is when we first open or later in the afternoon before we close.

You could also stay overnight on the campsite and go red squirrel spotting when it’s quieter.

Try your luck on the Woodland Walk and don't forget to look up, down and all around.

Where to see them

Red squirrels are most often found in the coniferous woodland areas, feasting on nuts and seeds, or you may find pine cones that have been nibbled, leaving what looks like a nibbled corn on the cob.

Squirrels have been spotted on the woodland walk, near the Church, either posing for photographers or leaping between the oaks. Another good place to try is by the feeders up by the Villa on the Dorset Wildlife Trust managed area.

Accessing the Dorset Wildlife Trust area

The Dorset Wildlife Trust manage the lagoon and wetland areas and there is a suggested donation of £2 to enter this part of the island, which includes access to hides and admission to the Wildlife and Wetland Centre.

Live webcams installed by the Dorset Wildlife Trust and Birds of Poole Harbour offer the chance to watch the comings and goings live. Catch up with all the action here.