Bird Watching Cruise – 15th November 2024

The morning of the 15th looked picturesque with the dense morning fog filling the Exe Estuary had fortunately burnt off by noon, so the weather was bright, sunny and utterly calm day as we cruised slowly up the estuary on the incoming tide. Some may say, perfect sailing conditions to do a spot of Bird Watching! If you are looking for things to do in Devon, this has to be on the list!

Parties of Brent Goose, perhaps 400 in all, were dotted across and around Bull Hill, mixed with smaller numbers of Oystercatchers, Redshank, and, on the return leg, a dozen Sanderling on the edge of the water. At Starcross, eagle-eyed Captain Jake spotted a rarer Kingfisher perched on one of the prominent wrecks, and at the River Kenn outfall were the first of a dozen Greenshank, and perhaps thirty Bar-tailed Godwits. As with the day before, the peak of the wader numbers were in the upper estuary, where about 200 Avocets, 250 Black-tailed Godwits, 200 Golden Plover, 300+ Dunlin and smaller numbers of Grey Plover, Turnstone, Lapwing and Curlew were also seen to much delight. The large flocks of Wigeon, Pintail and Teal remained resolutely up the creeks of the two wildfowl refuges.

Pride of place went to the two Harbour Seals on the exact same Exton mudbank as yesterday; a third seal was seen briefly alongside the boat as we passed the Starcross sailing club. It was so nice to see the seals doing well in the river.

The highlight of the day was literally that: bright low winter sunshine that meant everyone on board could enjoy the spectacle of waders and herons feeding close to the boat with their reflections clear in the mirror-like waters of the estuary. Unfortnelatly, I missed this photo opportunity given my duties on the commentary.

Several passengers asked for more information about the ability of Bar-tailed Godwits to shrink some internal organs during long migrations, so here is the story in more detail: https://asknature.org/strategy/organ-changes-enable-long-migration/

Peter