A Wildlife-Filled Escape to Brownsea Island - May 2025

In May 2025, we spent two unforgettable nights glamping in a bell tent on the beautiful Brownsea Island. Surrounded by ancient woodland, heathland and stunning views across Poole Harbour, it was the perfect opportunity to slow down and immerse ourselves in nature.

When we booked two nights on Brownsea Island in May 2025, I imagined falling asleep to the gentle sounds of nature and waking refreshed for days spent photographing wildlife.

Brownsea had other ideas.

At some point during the night, one of the island's resident peacocks decided that the patch of ground directly beside our bell tent was the perfect stage for an all-night performance. Every time we drifted off, another ear-splitting call shattered the silence. By dawn, I felt fairly certain that the peacock had slept better than we had.

Fortunately, the wildlife encounters that followed more than made up for our lack of sleep.

Each morning we made our way behind the church, settled down quietly and waited for Brownsea's famous red squirrels to appear. It never took long. Before we knew it, they were racing around our feet, peering curiously into our camera bags and generally behaving as though they owned the island and were simply tolerating our presence.

Their confidence was incredible. One squirrel seemed particularly interested in inspecting our photography equipment, perhaps checking whether we'd packed any snacks. They were joined by wandering pheasants and, of course, the occasional peacock strutting through like a celebrity making a grand entrance.

During the day, we explored the island's bird hides, watching the busy activity of the breeding terns. Their aerial agility was fascinating to observe as they darted across the water, constantly calling to one another. The hides also provided opportunities to watch a variety of other bird species making use of the island's diverse habitats.

As daylight faded, Brownsea revealed another side of its wildlife. The evenings were filled with the magical sound of nightjars. From our campsite we could hear numerous males churring across the heathland, their distinctive mechanical song carrying through the still evening air. Listening to this remarkable sound under the darkening sky was one of those special wildlife experiences that stays with you long after the trip has ended and is one of those wildlife experiences that photographs simply can't capture.

Brownsea Island is famous for its red squirrels, but for me this trip was about so much more. It was two days of being completely immersed in nature, sharing space with curious squirrels, elegant terns, wandering pheasants, mysterious nightjars and one exceptionally vocal peacock.

Would I return?

Absolutely.

Although next time, I might have a quiet word with the peacock first.