Eastbourne - Wildlife

Little Blue Penguins

Little Blue Penguins nest along the Eastbourne shoreline in the winter.  At one time there were five pairs nesting under the cottage.  The BBC filmed a documentary at the cottage about Blue Penguins (they no longer nest under the cottage as access has since been sealed off, as they can be very noisy and smelly when under houses!).

It is unlikely you will see any penguin nests as they hide amongst the rocks, up drain pipes and under houses.  You will possibly hear them at night in the distance (a number of pairs nest in rocks about 300 metres north of the cottage).

Blue Penguins usually move around the shore at night when they are safer from predators.  There are signs on the road entering Eastbourne advising motorists to beware of penguins crossing the road.

If you are out boating on the harbour, you may be lucky enough to see them swimming on the surface.

Orcas

Orcas (also known as Killer Whales) enter the harbour a couple of times a year, usually around November/December.  They make an amazing sight swimming in pods of a dozen or so and will come within 50 metres of the beach.

Seals

There are seal colonies at Red Rocks across the harbour, and at Palliser Bay south of Pencarrow.  Lone seals often enter the harbour and occasionally come up on the beach.  They have been sighted playing in the sea in front of the cottage about 50 metres off shore.

Oyster Catchers

Black, long legged birds with long thin red beaks, the Oyster Catchers frequent the beaches usually in pairs south of the cottage.

Others

Seagulls are prominent.  During spring they nest in the rocks around the coast toward Pencarrow and on Ward Island in the harbour, directly out from the cottage.

Shags can be seen diving for fish and sunning themselves on the rocks usually south of Eastbourne.

The native bush behind Eastbourne contains introduced wild pigs, deer and possums as well as a variety of native bird life, such as Tui, Morepork and Woodpigeon.