The Isles of Scilly is home to rare flora and fauna, much of which you’ll be hard pushed to find, let alone see, in other parts of the UK.

From the Lesser white-toothed (or Scilly) Shrew and indigenous Scilly bee to rare plant species, including the Lesser Adders-tongue ferns, Dwarf Pansy and Orange Birds-Foot, it’s no surprise that the islands draw wildlife professionals, academics and enthusiasts year-round.

You can find out more about these species on the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust Website 

Puffins

Puffins are the smallest auks that breed in Scilly. They arrive at the end of April and usually leave around mid-July. You might catch a glimpse of them on a boat trip around the uninhabited islands. It is said that the Islanders traditionally paid their rent to the Crown in ‘puffins’ rather than in cash.

Orange Birds-foot

Some of Scilly’s plants are native species - the Dwarf Pansy and Orange Birds-Foot are found nowhere else in Britain.

Oil Beetle

The Oil Beetle has an incredible life cycle. The female digs a hole in the ground and lays eggs. The larvae hatch, climb to the top of a flowering plant and, if very lucky, hitch a ride on a bee. The larvae winter in the bee’s nest feeding on eggs, larvae and honey. After pupating the fully formed beetle leaves the bee’s nest to start the cycle again.

Atlantic Grey Seals

Scilly’s resident population of Atlantic grey seals is one of the most important in Europe. During good weather local tripper boats go to the Eastern Isles and Western Rocks to look at the seals.

Leatherback Turtles

Sea turtles are occasionally seen around the Isles of Scilly, normally offshore in deep water. Leatherback turtles may pass by Scilly on their migration routes as they search for shoals of jellyfish. Rarely a turtle gets stranded in Scilly and needs assistance.

Scilly Bee

The Scilly Bee is unique to the islands. It is easily recognised because it is the only brown or orange-brown bumblebee in Scilly.

Thrift

Thrift – also called sea pink – is common on Scilly’s heathlands. Thrift gets a good foothold on bare rock by penetrating cracks with a long tap-root.

Dolphins

Dolphins can sometimes be seen from the Scillonian III ferry and from other boats moving around the islands. Most of the time dolphins are busy feeding but they may decide to play with the boat and do a bit of bow riding.

Ocean Sunfish

This bizarre looking fish can sometimes be seen around Scilly during the summer months. Ocean sunfish are one of the largest of all bony fishes. They can weigh up to 1.5 tonnes and reach approximately 2m in size.

Scilly Shrew

The Scilly Shrew is not found on the British mainland. In fact, a sub-species of the lesser white-toothed shrew which, curiously, is not found on the British mainland either.

Eelgrass

Plants are important in the underwater world around Scilly. Eelgrass is unusual because it is a type of flowering plant which can reproduce underwater – it has waterproof pollen!

Song Thrush

The song thrush is increasingly rare on the mainland but in Scilly there is a very high population of breeding thrushes, possibly 12 times higher than anywhere else in the UK.

Red Barbed Ant

Named from the red hairs on its body. First discovered in 1896, it has always been rare.