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For the birdwatcher the Isle of Man offers a rich assortment of species, several of which are rarities in other parts of the British Isles, in a variety of habitats of exceptional beauty.
The Island is about 31miles/50 km in length and 12 miles/20 km at its broadest point and occupies a central position in the northern part of the Irish Sea. It is dominated by two ranges of hills, clad in heather or grass moorland which rise to 2034 ft/621 m. at Snaefell in the north and to 1585 ft/483 m. at South Barrule. There are flat, but valuable lowlands in the north (which include the Ayres and Ballaugh Curragh) and the south-east with the Langness peninsula. The coastline is mostly composed of slate cliffs, interrupted here and there by sandy bays and tiny shingle coves. In the north there are sand dunes which separate the lowland heath of the Ayres from the sea, while across the narrow Sound off the south-west point of the main is a hilly islet, the Calf of Man, site of an important Bird Observatory administered by Manx National Heritage (MNH). Well-marked long distance footpaths explore almost the entire coast, providing frequent opportunities of seeing such Manx specialities as Peregrine, Chough and Raven. Fulmar and Shag are widely distributed but there are only four Cormorant colonies.
A few of the more spectacular cliffs have Kittiwake and Guillemot colonies, while there is a good scatter of places where Black Guillemots nest.
Stonechats are common on the gorse and bramble scrub which is such a typical feature of the steep coastal brooghs -a Gaelic word for the grassy slopes which lead down to the sea.
Except for the height of the summer, parties of Purple Sandpiper can be found at several well-established sites on the rocky coast. Little Tern, with as many as seventy pairs in some years, are the most important breeding birds of the Ayres shore.
The Millennium Way takes the walker from Sky Hill near Ramsey 27 miles/42 km. over the hills and through farmland to Castletown. This is Raven country, with the possible chance of Merlin; but the bird of the Manx hills is now the Hen Harrier, which first nested in 1977 in the failed plantation of Glen Rushen. There has since been a rapid expansion throughout all appropriate habitats. By 1990 more than forty pairs were nesting and the largest roost in Western Europe had been established at Ballaugh Curraghs, with smaller numbers at Stoney Mountain.
Along the fast flowing streams Grey Wagtails are common, but surprisingly the Dipper is almost unknown and while Common Sandpipers are seen regularly on passage, they have rarely bred. Many of these streams pass through wooded glens where Chiffchaff, the increasingly successful Blackcap and Treecreeper are the typical birds - Silverdale, Port Soderick and Laxey Glens are best for birds while Ballaglass, Tholt-y - Will, Glen Helen and Glen Maye have the finest scenery. The steep wooded slopes overlooking the northern plain have breeding Sparrowhawks and Woodcock and here there is always the chance of a Wood Warbler in May.
Much of the moorland has been turned over to conifer plantations. Some have been established for more than 100 years and have ornithological attractive clearings and areas of failed plantation. During the last decade Siskin, and more recently Crossbill, have begun to colonise the coniferous plantations, while the smaller plantations and shelter belts frequently support a pair of Long-eared Owls (as in Ireland, the commonest owl) and the very young plantations may attract Short-eared Owls.
Of the several reservoirs, Kerrowdhoo holds a variety of wildfowl in winter as do the two smaller Foxdale dams - Eairy and Kionslieu. In the north, the tiny Glascoe Dub and nearby Ballacorey are always worth a look.
Curragh or willow carr is one of the most important habitats, the prime example being Ballaugh Curragh, a considerable expanse of marshland supporting a rich growth of willow and birch, together with Bog Myrtle. Renowned for its great Hen Harrier roost, it has a fine variety of birdlife at all seasons. The less extensive Greeba Curragh, stretching eastward from St. John's, is easily reached by the old railway track from which roding Woodcock can invariably be seen on spring evenings.
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Sandy and shingle beach, dunes, maritime heath, gravel pits and freshwater pools. This site extends from The Lhen (NX378016) to the Point of Ayre and can be reached from several roads from A10 and by A16 which passes between the gravel pits. Little Tern (up to 60 pairs), Arctic and Common Terns and non-breeding Sandwich Terns (summer). Sanderling, Curlew Sandpiper, Whimbrel, skuas (passage). Divers, Golden Plover, Short-eared Owl and Raven flock, Twite (winter).
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Glascoe is little more than a duck pond and the adjacent fields to the east regularly flood in winter. Ballacorey is a shallow mere in farmland which dries off as summer progresses. Glascoe is close to A10, Ballacorey is reached by a lane leaving a minor road to the west at SC439991. Shelduck (summer). Whooper Swan (transient), Wigeon, Shoveler (winter).
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Dubs and meadows on farmland The meadows can be viewed from a motorable track off A13, the dubs are just to the east (permission at Ballacain Farm to north). The premier site for wild swans with 20 - 30 Whoopers and occasional Bewick’s, Greylag Goose, varied wildfowl on dubs (winter).
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The Island’s most extensive area of marshland with a rich growth of willow and birch and scattered rushy meadows. Minor sign-posted roads lead into the Curragh from A14 N of Sulby and A10 N of Ballaugh. Park at SC363951 by the Killane River or at SC359957 and follow the boardwalk SE to the Manx Nature Conservation Trust hide. Greylag Goose, Teal, Water Rail, Woodcock, Raven (all year). Grasshopper Warbler, Blackcap, Siskin, Redpoll (summer). Largest Hen Harrier roost in Western Europe - up to 80 birds with 20-40 quite usual, also Peregrine and Merlin. View from hide starting 90 mins before sunset October to March.
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Sandy bay with harbour at Sulby Rivermouth. Artificial Mooragh Lake to north partly drained in winter. Steep wooded hillside to south. Goldeneye flock opposite Grand Island Hotel and possibility of unusual wildfowl in harbour and on Mooragh Lake, which when drained attracts waders (winter). Park at Hairpin and follow several paths over the hillside for Sparrowhawk, Blackcap (summer) and Wood Warbler (spring passage and summer).
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Small roadside pond - open water reduced by bogbean in summer. Whooper Swans regularly and unusual wildfowl may turn up (winter). Little Grebe has bred. Coot, Oystercatcher (summer).[Ravens nest in Bishopscourt Glen 800m to south].
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Take A15 to Maughold village and follow single track lane for lighthouse which skirts north side of churchyard. Rough track north to large car park and another small car park to west of lighthouse. From main car park follow path to St. Maughold’s Well and then follow path along coast to west (easy) and east with great care (dangerous). Island’s largest Cormorant colony (50+ nests) to west. To east Kittiwake and Guillemot colonies, Black Guillemot, Puffin (summer). Peregrine, Raven, Chough (all year). Grey Seals on rocks to west (winter).
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Grass and heather moor, conifer plantation. Recent planting of deciduous woodland.Park beside Sartfell Plantation and walk up west or east side. Look at Sartfell to west and follow foot path north to reach Slieau Freoghane summit. Hen Harrier (summer), Merlin (passage), Red Grouse, gull colonies on Sartfell and Slieau Freoghane, Short-eared Owl, Wheatear, Redpoll (summer).
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Upland valley with sheep grazing and extensive bracken. Drive up past Laxey Wheel and park at Agneash (SC431860). Follow broad track up valley to Snaefell mines. Wheatear, Whinchat, Stonechat (summer). Hen Harrier, Chough (all year).
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Slate cliffs and rocky islet.Take road along west side of harbour and park at Fenella Bay on left before short causeway. Walk around Castle and follow footpath south along coast to Contrary Head.Peel Hill: Peregrine, Black Guillemot, Chough (all year), Kittiwake, Guillemot, Puffin (summer). Castle on St. Patrick’s Isle: Purple Sandpiper (up to 40) and Black Redstart (winter). Good sea-watching (July to September). Bay: Great Northern Diver (winter).
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Willow carr and rushy meadows.Walk along old railway line track either from Crosby village or from lanes leaving A1 at SC308806 or SC299810. Roding Woodcock (summer), Grasshopper Warbler (passage and possibly summer).
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Two reservoirs with intervening settling pool. Leave A18 at Hillberry (SC386797) and after 1 km keep left on Clypse Moar Road until bearing right at the drive to The Grange. Park and walk down to reservoirs.Kerrowdhoo: Tufted Duck, Pochard (winter) attracts fair variety of duck, with recent records of Scaup, Goosander and Smew.
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The two dams - Eairy and Kionslieu and Stoney Mountain to the south. Whooper Swans used to winter annually on the dams which still attract a variety of wildfowl which have recently included Ruddy Duck (winter). Breeding Tufted Duck (summer).There is a Hen Harrier roost on Stoney Mountain - view from B36 at SC298767 starting about 90 mins before sunset (winter). Also breeding Hen Harrier, Raven, Crossbill and (irregularly) Short-eared Owl (summer)..
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Rocky coast forming northern limit of Douglas Bay. Up to 20 Goldeneye gather at the sewage outflow below Onchan Head and similar numbers of Purple Sandpipers on the rocks of Port Jack at high tide (winter).
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Heather moor, conifer plantation (mature, failed and new) and bracken covered coastal slopes.Take A27 south from Peel and park at SC232767. Explore Glen Rushen from SW to NE, then drive along track SW to SC225762. Walk south to Lag-ny-Keeilly (SC216745). Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Red Grouse, Chough, Raven (all year). Merlin, Ring Ousel (passage). Short-eared Owl, Redpoll, Whinchat, Grasshopper Warbler (summer).
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Slate cliffs, coastal scrub and wooded glen.Either walk along the Marine Drive from Douglas, park at Port Soderick or use the train. Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Stonechat, Chough, Raven (all year). Black Guillemot at Gob Lhiack to the south and cliff nesting House Martins immediately south of Port Soderick (summer).
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Sandy bay with indented rocky shore leading S. to Poyllvaaish (SC245676) or W to Gansey shore (SC218688). Park at Strandhall. A lane follows the coast to Poyllvaaish Farm before branching northwards past Balladoole to rejoin A5. Alternatively, continue following coastline along A5 towards Port St. Mary, leading to the `Shore Hotel’.Wildfowl - notably Shelduck and Wigeon (Brent Goose most years), Golden and Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and good Chough flocks (particularly coastline below Kentraugh) (winter). Shelduck, Ringed Plover (summer).
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Sandy bay, weed-covered rocks, saltmarsh, low cliffs, golf course, rocky islet and intertidal mud. Adjacent airfield.The entire area from Scarlett Quarry in the west to the flying club north of Derbyhaven and as far as the Langness car park at SC284660 is well served by roads. Best areas are around the isthmus to Langness and include Sandwick - the eastern extremity of sand in Castletown Bay - south past the Pool to the car park and the intertidal mud separating Derbyhaven from its breakwater. During winter this is one of the best places to see a Chough flock at close range. Just south of Derbyhaven take the right-hand fork for Langness and almost at once when the road turns left, keep straight ahead along a sandy, motorable track which follows the coast closely from Sandwick southwards for about a quarter of a mile before rejoining the lighthouse road. Watching from a car can be very rewarding, particularly at high tide. Grey Plover, Knot, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, both godwits, Whimbrel, Greenshank, Sandwich Tern (passage). Wildfowl (Brent Goose now annual), Golden Plover, Short- eared Owl, Chough and in Derbyhaven divers and grebes (winter).Rarities have included Little Egret (several years), Temminck’s Stint, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher and Calandra Lark.
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Vertical slate cliffs and stack.Arguably the Island’s finest cliff scenery - a lane south at Cregneash village climbs to a car park whence one can walk down to the Chasms (dangerous fissures - take care). There is also limited parking at Fistard (SC200644) - then follow the coast for about 1 km. Stonechat, Chough, Raven (all year). Kittiwake, Guillemot, Black Guillemot (just S of Fistard), possibly Puffin and Wheatear (summer).
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A two and a half sq. km islet off the SW tip of the Isle of Man combining rough pastures and slate cliffs. The old farmhouse is now a Bird Observatory and there are two disused 19th Century lighthouses.Stonechat, Chough, Raven (all year). Great variety of passerine migrants (passage). Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel, Eider, Hen Harrier, Water Rail, Kittiwake, auks, possibly Short-eared Owl and Wheatear (summer). Good sea-watching early autumn. Recent rarities: Osprey, Red Kite, Goshawk, Sabine’s Gull, Pechora Pipit, Bluethroat, Aquatic Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrike and Scarlet Rosefinch. There is a resident Warden at the Bird Observatory for most of the year. Activities include bird-ringing and monitoring the breeding bird population. There is a considerable flock of Loghtan sheep.
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