Views of Brownsea Island

Situated in Poole Harbour and owned by the National Trust, Brownsea Island, only two miles across it is home to wildlife that just can't be found in such proximity in the rest of the country.
There is a breeding population of sika deer - they have not established themselves like the more common roe & muntjac deer and can be quite hard to find on the island (apparently, they wait for the day trippers to leave and then congregate by the church).
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A completely different creature can be found on only one wall on the island and is only 5mm long. The snail Papillifera bidens (it has no common name) is common in southern europe, yet can only be found in one other location in the UK - clivedon house in Buckinghamshire   

It is believed it was accidently introduced by a previous owner who imported statues from Greece.

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Whilst the island is owned by the National Trust, half of it is leased to the Dorest Wildlife Trust who manage the lagoons, which are a haven for wading birds.  Including avocets (the symbol for the RSPB).  Once extinct in the UK as a breeding bird, it has now reestablished itself (there are now 800 breeding birds) although feeding sites are still scarce

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But the animal which Brownsea is famous for - and which most people come to see - is the red squirrel.  Extinct from the south of England and struggling elsewhere, there is a stable population of about 250 animals - helped by the lack of prediators and the absence of the grey squirrel -  and autumn is the best time to see them as the trees start to loose leaves and as they bury nuts:

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