Get Involved

There are many opportunities to get involved with species recording both locally, here on the Island and nationally in wider campaigns

Species of the Month (iWatchWildlife)

We run a programme of selected a species most months that we’d like to know more about to boost our current, local wildlife records. We ask people to share their observations. We then capture those observations and convert them into permanent species records.

We also feature one species as our ‘Species of the Year and for 2026 it’s the Common or Viviparous Lizard, find out more below…

We encourage the use of the online species recording platform iRecord to submit records. This method ensures that your data goes
directly to the IW Local Records Centre (IWLRC). You can do this via the iRecord website or via the App.

You can also send data by email to the IWLRC and Excel is the best format to use for processing with a separate column for each attribute included. To avoid any duplication, please only submit records in one format/via one platform.

If you need any help with ID, we can help or put you in touch with a local expert.

Follow us on Facebook @iWatchWildlife and Instagram #iWatchWildlife

Downloadable basic wildlife recording form

‘Species of the Month’ – February to December 2026

Feb – Frogs, Toads & Spawn / March – Brown Hare  /  April –  Adder  /  May – Hedgehogs  /  June – Stag Beetle  /  July – Great Green Bush Cricket  /  August – Tiger Moths /  September – Kingfisher / October – Curlew / November – Wax Caps / December – Mistletoe

Frogs (Melanie Parr) , Toad (Ian Whitmore), Spawn (Keith Marston) / March – Hare by Nick Edwards / April – Adder by Mike Cotterill / May – Hedgehog by Graham Hendy / June – Stag Beetles PTES / July – Great Green Bush Cricket by Allan Jackson / August – Tiger Moths / Sept – Kingfisher by Keith Marston / October – Curlew by Jim Baldwin / November – Wax Caps / Dec – Mistletoe

Species of the Year  2026  – Common or Viviparous Lizard

Throughout 2026, we’ll be asking for your Common Lizard sightings across the Island.

Common Lizards (unlike Wall Lizards) can be pretty tricky to photograph, however Wall Lizards are very geographically restricted being an introduced and established species in the Ventnor / Undercliff area.

Away from Ventnor/Undercliff any lizard you come across is likely to be a Common Lizard.

Find out more about this species here

Contact us with your records this year:
email: iwatchwildlife@gmail.com or Social Media @iWatchWildlife

We will require a date, location, the Recorders’ name (and photo) to create a species record please.

Common Lizards by in flight by Allan Jackson (above)  and Owen Cass (below)

Other ways to get involved with wildlife recording

If you enjoy using Social Media, then Facebook is a good place to start. There are a number of local general wildlife groups which are a fantastic resource for getting to know local species and what’s about when. They can help put you in touch with experts if you need help with identification (though pictures are essential).

Isle of Wight Nature
Isle of Wight Flora and Fauna
Island Insects
Isle of Wight Birding
Isle of Wight Butterflies and Moths
Isle of Wight Bat Group
Isle of Wight Fungi
Wight Swifts
Isle of Wight Marine Conservation Hub
West Wight Wild
Wild in the South Wight

Here are links to other local surveys that you may wish to get involved with:

Red Squirrel sightings (Wight Squirrels)

Bird Recording (British Trust for Ornithology) – there are many bird surveys including Wetland, Farmland and Garden birds run by the BTO that need your help. For further info, contact our BTO IW Representative Teresa Tearle on Teresa.Tearle@btinternet.com.

Hampshire And Isle of Wight Reptile and Amphibian Group (HIWARG)
The group focus is conservation of native UK species essentially around habitat management, surveying, public engagement, volunteer training & doing as much as possible to understand & protect the native species in the county.

The Great Egg Case Hunt – You can become a citizen scientist by helping find and record shark eggcases.

Seagrass Spotter – a downloadable app where you can become a citizen scientist contributing to marine conservation with just a few taps of your phone.

* if submitting your observations to a regional or national survey, please make sure you also send your records to our county recorders to ensure your records are also captured locally.