Biosphere

Seasonal Wildlife Calendar

What to spot on the Isle of Man, month by month. From winter thrushes and seal pups in January to Starling murmurations in November — the Manx Biosphere has something remarkable every season.

May

Peak breeding season. The Calf of Man comes alive with Puffins, Manx Shearwaters, and seabird colonies. Arctic Terns establish at Langness. Wild orchids flower on limestone grassland. The island buzzes with life.

Temperature

9-14 C

Daylight

~16 hours

Puffin

Breeding colony at Calf of Man — peak season

Manx Shearwater

Returns to breeding burrows at night

Arctic Tern

Nesting colony at Langness peninsula

Wild Orchid

Pyramidal and spotted orchids on grasslands

Where to go

-Calf of Man (Puffin colony)
-Langness (Arctic Tern)
-Close Sartfield (orchids)

Wildlife Watching Tips

Getting Started

The Isle of Man is compact (572 km²) so most habitats are within 30 minutes' drive. Bring binoculars and weatherproof layers — Manx weather is famously changeable.

Recording Sightings

Log what you see on NBN Atlas IoM or the iRecord app. Every record contributes to conservation.

Respect Wildlife

Keep your distance from breeding birds, seal haul-outs, and nesting sites. Many species are protected under the Wildlife Act 1990. Disturbing Schedule 1 species is a criminal offence.

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Data attribution — Species data provided by Manx National Heritage, NBN Atlas, GBIF, Manx Wildlife Trust, Manx BirdLife, and partners. This data represents decades of fieldwork and conservation effort.

Data sources: Manx BirdLife · Manx Wildlife Trust · UNESCO Biosphere IoM