Wildlife & Nature
The Isle of Man is a UNESCO Biosphere — the entire island, its coast and surrounding seas are designated. Wildlife thrives here.
Star Species
🦈 Basking Sharks
The world's second-largest fish visits Manx waters every summer (May-August). Peel and the west coast are prime spots. Boat trips available.
🦅 Hen Harriers
The IoM is a stronghold for this rare bird of prey. They sky-dance over the uplands in spring — one of nature's great spectacles.
🦭 Grey Seals
Colonies around the Calf of Man, Langness and the Ayres. Best seen in autumn when pups are born on remote beaches.
🐦 Choughs
Red-billed choughs — acrobatic corvids that thrive on the Manx coast. Extremely rare in the UK, relatively common here.
🦘 Wallabies
Yes, really. A small colony of Bennett's wallabies lives wild in the Curraghs wetlands near Ballaugh. Escapees from a wildlife park decades ago.
🐋 Marine Life
Dolphins, porpoises, minke whales and occasional orcas in Manx waters. The Manx whale and dolphin watch records sightings.
Nature Reserves
- Calf of Man — Bird observatory, seal colonies, lighthouse keepers' cottages
- The Ayres NNR — Northern tip, rare coastal habitats, terns, orchids
- Ballaugh Curraghs — Wetland reserve, reed beds, home of the wallabies
- Dalby Mountain — Upland heather, harriers, curlews
- Scarlett Visitor Centre — Volcanic geology, rock pools, coastal birds
Organisations
- Manx Wildlife Trust — manxwt.org.uk
- Manx BirdLife — manxbirdlife.im
- Manx Basking Shark Watch — Report sightings online