Castletown Bay from Sandwick at low tide.
Derbyhaven, Fort Island Langness, Dreswick Point and Sandwick
Probably the island’s leading area for rarities and passage migrants.
Directions: From the Airport, head towards Castletown. After about ¾ mile take the first exit at the traffic island, then turn left at the ‘T’ Junction. Stay on this road (Castletown bay is on the right), until you get to the small group of houses just after the airport runway. Turn right here (just before the sharp left-hand bend). After ¼ mile, (by a derelict building), the road narrows and heads towards the Golf Links clubhouse.
For Fort Island, continue past the derelict building (keeping the bay on your right). Drive past the Golf links hotel and over the narrow, walled causeway.
For Sandwick, turn right at the derelict building and drive straight ahead (it’s a rough track) and view the shore from the end. There is a narrow and rough track that follows the shore, but it can be a bit tricky for non-4x4s.
For Langness, turn right at the derelict building and then immediately left and cross the golf course (keeping your eyes open for low-flying golf balls!). Just after the tee on the right the salt marsh/rocky shore opens up in front of you and to the right.
For Dreswick Point, continue as if going to Langness salt marsh until you reach the last (and biggest) car park on the right (There are signs restricting vehicular access from this point). Continue from here on foot until reaching the Lighthouse walled garden. Take the ‘path’ to the left of the lighthouse for about 150yds. and view the sea from any sheltered spot you can find!
Car Parking: Mostly off-road, but there are two large, rough car parks further down towards the lighthouse. And one at Fort Island.
Habitat: Salt marsh, sandy beach, rocky shore, tidal pools, golf-course, short turf, gorse and heather heathland.
Summer Visitors: Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, Wheatear, Whimbrel, Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit (Icelandic race)…….
Passage Migrants: This is where the area really excels. Migrant warblers, waders, raptors, shearwaters, petrels, gulls……..
Winter Visitors: Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Jack and CommonSnipe, Wigeon, Teal, gulls, curlew and other common waders.
Recent Highlights: Callandra Lark, Little Egret, Great White Egret, White-rumped Sandpiper, American Golden Plover, Avocet, Osprey, Sooty and Mediterranean Shearwaters, Sabines Gull, Glaucous Gull, Long-tailed Skua, Little Auk, Spoonbill etc., etc., etc.