Castletown Golf Links is not only a world-class golf course, but also a haven for some of our most remarkable bird species. As you enjoy your round, take a moment to look out for the wildlife that shares this unique landscape with you. You may be lucky enough to spot some of the species listed below.
Chough
Manx: Caaig
Choughs mate for life and will often return to the same nest site year after year.
Nesting all around our coastline, choughs will choose a deep ledge within a cave for their nest as it provides a constant environment for the eggs and chicks. In recent years, choughs have increasingly nested in farm buildings further inland on the Island.
The Isle of Man is home to nearly a third of the entire chough population of the British Isles.
The 2025 Chough Census found 121 nesting pairs across the Isle of Man, a decline from the previous census in 2016.
In the UK, numbers are increasing in Cornwall but there have been long term declines in both Wales and Scotland.
The Chough is green listed in the UK and Amber listed in the Isle of Man.
Keep an eye out for choughs wheeling overhead above the golf course, or foraging along the strandline and coastal edges of the Langness Peninsula.
Swallow
Manx: Gollan geayee
They are summer visitors to the Isle of Man, traveling from sub-Saharan Africa each year. Most arrive in late March or early April to breed, flying south again in early autumn.
Swallows build open cup-shaped nests from mud mixed with grass and lined with feathers. These nests are typically attached to beams or ledges inside barns, sheds, stables, and other outbuildings, where they are sheltered from rain and wind. The same nesting sites are often reused in successive years.
Highly agile and fast-flying, swallows feed almost entirely on flying insects. They hunt on the wing, catching prey such as flies and aphids in mid-air, and may travel several kilometres each day while feeding.
The swallow is currently green-listed in the UK and amber-listed in the Isle of Man.
Raven
Manx: Feeagh
Once heavily persecuted, Raven numbers have increased in recent years following legal protection.
Ravens are one of the earliest nesters on the Isle of Man, laying eggs as early as February if the weather is suitable. They will often build several nests and the choose the best one.
Ravens are best known for their ‘cronking’ call but scientists have found that they can actually make over 30 different noises.
Ravens are one of two bird species that appear on the Manx Coat of Arms (along with the Peregrine) and are synonymous with the Isle of Man and the Island’s cultural history. It is said that mythical raven’s Huginin and Muninn sit on Odin’s shoulders and whisper all the news they see and hear into his ear.
Ravens are very intelligent and can be very playful. There are stories of ravens helping themselves to items from golfers bags left unattended on the course, so be aware of these avian pickpockets.
Pale-bellied Brent Goose
Manx: Guiy doo
The smallest of the geese species found on the Island, brent geese are distinctive with their black head and neck with a small white collar.
There are two types of brent geese (sometimes also known as brant geese) the pale bellied (which have a paler belly and breed in Svalbard and Greenland) and the dark bellied (which has a darker belly and breeds in Russia and Siberia).
Brent Geese generally fly in loose flocks along the coastline rather than the tight ‘V’ skein seen in the grey geese.
The Pale Bellied Brent Goose is Amber listed in the UK and in the Isle of Man.
They are a very coastal species, feeding on eel grass and seaweed.
You will see them from 8th hole as they feed and loaf along the coastline.
Curlew
Manx: Crottag
The curlew is the largest of Europe’s wading birds and one of the most distinctive. Its long, slender bill curves elegantly downwards, perfectly adapted for probing mud and sand for food. Mottled brown plumage provides excellent camouflage, while its long legs allow it to wade deeper than many other shorebirds.
Female curlews are larger than males, but as their plumage is identical, telling them apart in the field can be a challenge.
Curlews are opportunistic feeders, dining mainly on worms, crustaceans and molluscs. You may notice them tossing their prey into the air before swallowing, a clever technique that helps compensate for their relatively short tongues.
Sadly, curlews are facing significant conservation challenges. Declines across much of their range are linked to habitat loss and changes in farming practices, making sightings all the more special.
Perhaps most memorable is the curlew’s haunting, bubbling call. This evocative sound has echoed through folklore and poetry for centuries, sometimes believed to foretell stormy weather, or even misfortune, adding to the bird’s air of wild mystery.
The curlew is red listed in both the UK and the Isle of Man.
Skylark
Manx: Ushag happagh
Most males will reach a height of approx. 50m as they sing but some will reach the dizzying height of 600m.
Male Skylarks will begin singing before dawn so their song is often one of the first to be heard on a spring morning.
A small crest on its head can be raised when the bird is excited or alarmed.
Skylarks nest on the ground, carefully concealed within grassland in open habitats. This makes them particularly vulnerable to disturbance from walkers and dogs, especially during the breeding season.
Because of their song, Skylark feature heavily in literature and poetry and it is thought that more poems have been written about the skylark’s song than that of any other bird.
Once a common farmland bird, Skylarks have declined significantly and are now Red listed in both the UK and the Isle of Man.
Manx Shearwater
Manx: Scraayl
Each pair raises just one chick, a surprisingly large, fluffy youngster. Under the cover of darkness, the adults slip quietly back and forth between ocean and burrow, reducing the risk of predation.
Manx Shearwaters once bred on the Calf in their tens of thousands and were so numerous that chicks were historically harvested for food. However, the introduction of mammalian predators led to a dramatic decline. Following a successful large-scale rat eradication programme, their fortunes have improved significantly, and today more than 1,600 pairs are once again breeding on the Calf of Man.
Herring Gull
Manx: Foillan
The Isle of Man is home to six species of gull, five of which are Red listed. Juvenile Herring Gulls look very different from adults, with brown, streaky plumage, and it can take up to four years for them to acquire their full adult colouring. Often described as aggressive, Herring Gulls are in fact simply protective, particularly if you approach too close to a nest. They are highly opportunistic feeders, able to take advantage of a wide variety of food sources, something that sometimes brings them into conflict with people. Research has shown that Herring Gulls can recognise and remember individual humans, so treating them with respect is always wise.
The 2017-18 seabird census of the Isle of Man found that there are currently just over 1000 pairs of Herring Gull Breeding on the Island. This is a decline of over 80% in numbers from the late 1990s.
Herring Gulls are Red listed in both the UK and the Isle of Man.
Oystercatcher
Manx: Garee breck / Bridjeen
Along the shore, Oystercatchers feed mainly on mussels, cockles and other shellfish, expertly opening them with their strong bills. Move inland to grassy areas such as golf courses and they switch tactics, probing the ground for worms and insects.
Interestingly, young Oystercatchers learn feeding techniques from their parents and generally specialise as stabbers, chiselers or hammerers. Over time, their chosen method subtly shapes the form of their bill.
The Oystercatcher is Amber listed in the UK and Red listed in the Isle of Man.
Stonechat
Manx: Boid-y-chonnee
About the same size as a Robin, the Stonechat is a lively and often conspicuous little bird. The male is particularly eye-catching, with a black head, bright orange breast and bold white neck patch, while the female is softer brown in tone but equally charming.
Stonechats can be seen on the Island all year round.
True to their name, Stonechats make a sharp, clicking call that sounds like two small stones being tapped together. They are often seen perched prominently on top of gorse bushes or other vegetation, scanning the ground for insects.
Their cup-shaped nests are built low in dense vegetation or long grass, usually just off the ground, where they lay four to six pale blue-green eggs. Juveniles have very similar plumage to adult females.
Stonechats are green listed in both the UK and the Isle of Man.
Meadow Pipit
Manx: Billy yn tweet
During the breeding season, they perform a distinctive fluttering “parachute” display flight, rising into the air before drifting back down with wings and legs outstretched. Meadow Pipits favour open habitats such as grasslands and golf courses, where they nest on the ground hidden within dense vegetation.
They feed mainly on insects and other invertebrates.
Meadow Pipits are a key host species for Cuckoos, which lay their eggs in pipit nests and rely on them to rear their chicks. They are also an important food source for birds of prey such as Hen Harriers and Merlins.
Meadow Pipits are Amber listed in the UK and Red listed in the Isle of Man.
Shag
Manx: Fannag varrey
Shags feed mainly on fish, crustaceans and molluscs and are superb divers, plunging beneath the waves to depths of up to 200 feet (60 metres) in search of food.
Shags are present on the island all year round, nesting in colonies along rugged, rocky coastlines. Interestingly, their scientific name aristotelis honours the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, one of the earliest naturalists to closely study birds.
A shag’s feathers aren’t completely waterproof. After diving, they need time to dry out, which is why you’ll often see them perched on rocks with their wings outstretched.
The shag is Amber listed in the UK and Red Listed in the Isle of Man.
Little Egret
Manx: Coar-vane veg
Once a rare sight on the Island, Little Egrets can now be seen here all year round. Over the past few decades, they have gradually expanded northwards through the British Isles from France, becoming an increasingly familiar coastal bird.
They feed mainly on small fish and crustaceans, often seen carefully stalking prey in shallow water. Little Egrets are generally quiet birds, but if disturbed they give a harsh, rasping alarm call.
Historically, their beautiful long neck plumes were highly prized in the millinery trade (at one time worth more than gold) which led to serious declines in their numbers. Thankfully, legal protection has allowed populations to recover.
Little egrets have yet to breed on the Isle of Man but it is likely that at some point they will be seen nesting in one of the heronries on the Island.
Little Egrets are Green listed in the UK and Amber listed in the Isle of Man.
Starling
Manx: Truitlag
Starlings are highly social birds and spend much of their time in lively flocks. They are excellent mimics and can produce an impressive range of whistles, clicks and chatters, sometimes copying other birds and even mechanical sounds.
Their diet mainly consists of invertebrates, though they will readily visit garden feeders. Along coastlines such as the Langness Peninsula, flocks can often be seen probing through seaweed along the tideline in search of food.
Starlings are cavity nesters, often using old woodpecker holes, nest boxes or even holes in the eaves of buildings.
Perhaps their most spectacular behaviour is the famous murmuration, when hundreds or even thousands of birds twist and turn together in perfect synchrony, creating ever-changing shapes in the evening sky. It’s widely regarded as one of nature’s most breath taking sights.
Starlings are Red listed in the UK and Amber listed in the Isle of Man.
Ringed Plover
Manx: Feddag ainnit
Ringed Plovers have greyish-brown upperparts and white underparts, with a neat white collar and forehead. Their bright orange bill (tipped in black) and orange legs make them easy to identify.
These birds are particularly sensitive to disturbance. If a predator or a person comes too close to the nest, an adult may perform a remarkable “broken wing” display, pretending to be injured to draw attention away from its eggs or chicks. Listen out for their soft, whistling “toodle-toodle-toodle” call along the shore.
A possible confusion species for the ringed plover is the little ringed plover which is smaller and slighter than the ringed plover and has a distinctive yellow eye ring.
Ringed Plovers are Red listed in the UK and Amber listed in the Isle of Man.
Eider
Manx: Laagh loughlinagh
During the breeding season, males and females look very different. Males are striking in black and white plumage with a soft pale green patch on the nape. Females are beautifully camouflaged in brown barred feathers. After breeding, males moult into a darker brown “eclipse” plumage with white markings on the back and wings.
Eiders feed on molluscs, diving down several metres to find them.
Eiders are very sociable and are usually seen close to shore, riding the swell in sandy bays or forming long lines just beyond the breaking waves.
Their nests are built close to the sea and lined with incredibly soft eiderdown, which the female plucks from her own breast. While eiderdown pillows and quilts are now rare and valuable, sustainable harvesting still takes place in some areas after ducklings have left the nest, ensuring no harm comes to the birds.
Once the chicks hatch, several females may form a crèche, caring for a large group of ducklings together.
Eiders are Amber listed in the UK and Red listed in the Isle of Man.
Wren
Manx: Drean
Wrens are cavity nesters and are experts at squeezing into small spaces that other birds can’t use, reducing competition for nesting sites. Males will establish a territory early in the spring and will build multiple nests using moss and twigs, the female will then select the best nest to use.
Wrens are mainly insectivorous, feeding on insects and spiders but may also occasionally consume seeds.
Their numbers can drop during harsh winters, but Wrens have a clever survival strategy: they roost together for warmth. In fact, more than 60 birds have been recorded sharing a single nest box on a cold winter’s night.
The Wren also holds a special place in Manx culture. “Hunt the Wren” is an ancient tradition celebrated on 26th December, when participants sing the Wren Song and perform a traditional dance, a custom believed to bring good luck for the year ahead.
Wrens are Amber listed in the UK and Green listed in the Isle of Man.
Wheatear
Manx: Claggan cloaie
The male is especially eye-catching, with smart black and grey plumage and a soft peachy-orange chest. If you spot one in flight, look out for its bright white rump and distinctive black “T” shape on the tail.
Wheatears distinctive in the way that they move with a swift and direct flight, with frequent short stops and hops when feeding. Their habit of sitting on a rock and flicking their tail is also distinctive.
Wheatears favour open landscapes and breed mainly on moorland, though they can also be found in grassland and heath. They often nest in small cavities, such as holes in old walls.
Feeding mostly on insects, they are frequently seen darting across short grass, on the golf course, the driving range is a particularly good place to look.
Wheatears are Amber listed in both the UK and the Isle of Man.
Pied Wagtail
Manx: Ushag vreck
You don’t have to venture far into the countryside to see one, Pied Wagtails are just as at home in towns and villages as they are along the coast. They are frequently spotted in parks, school playgrounds and even car parks, busily searching for food. They can be seen on the Island all year round.
They are the only wagtail here that does not have yellow underparts. Instead, they are smartly dressed in black and white, with a distinctive black bib and a cheerful “chirrup” call that often gives away their presence.
Pied Wagtails are adaptable nesters, building their nests in a wide variety of places, often tucked into a hole in a wall or another sheltered crevice. In winter, they gather together in communal roosts to keep warm — sometimes forming surprisingly large groups.
A close relative, the White Wagtail (a European subspecies), is occasionally seen on the Island. It looks very similar but lacks the bold black bib of the Pied Wagtail.
The Pied Wagtail is Green listed in both the UK and the Isle of Man.
Hen Harrier
Manx: Shirragh ny giark
Hen Harriers usually nest in the uplands where they nest on the ground, but they can be seen at Langness throughout the year, using the peninsula as a valuable feeding area. Males will typically hunt for the female while she incubates the eggs, but he wont bring the food to her directly. Rather, he will fly to nest calling to his mate who will then leave the nest and catch the food from him in mid air. These ‘food passes’ help to reinforce the bond between the pair during the breeding season.
The Isle of Man is a stronghold for this species. The 2022 census recorded approximately 38 breeding pairs on the Island, and alongside Orkney, it supports one of the highest densities of breeding Hen Harriers in the British Isles.
Hen Harriers are Red listed in the UK and Amber listed in the Isle of Man.
