This afternoon’s cruise benefitted from sunshine, admittedly mainly when it came from behind us! Exmouth was busy today, but there were still Shags feeding off the Marina. We had to do an about-turn soon after leaving, when someone spotted a Kingfisher on the rocks there. Our regular Slavonian Grebe was rather silhouetted off Cockwood, but at least it’s still around … in its 14th year with us! A least 4 Greenshanks were off Powderham and the first few Avocets nearby. A Harbour (Common) Seal played with a fish near Lympstone, where Pintails and Wigeon were feeding. Approaching Turf there were large numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and Dunlin, with fewer Grey Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwits and Ringed Plovers. A large flock of Brent Geese flew up from fields just over the sea wall, mostly returning there soon afterwards. Beyond Turf the mudflats were crowded with feeding Avocets, Dunlins, Redshanks and a tight roosting flock of Golden Plovers. Equally impressive were thousands of gulls (all 5 of the regular species) flying in, bathing, preening and settling down to roost on the intertidal areas; Bull Hill sandbank was covered in them as we returned to Exmouth with Venus shining brightly after a lovely sunset.
Dave Smallshire
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