Guided Bird Watching Cruises

Wednesday 16th November   What a highlight on this trip, a Spoonbill, Wow! We were virtually stationary close to the shore at Powderham watching the Spoonbill feeding amongst a group of Mute Swans.  It wasn’t concerned about our presence and it carried on feeding with its wonderful bill until we moved off. The supporting cast…

Birdwatching Trip Sunday 13th November A cracking first trip of the season. I have never seen so many Wigeon and Brent Geese on the river. There were thousands of these two species, in flight, on the water and in the mud. I should imagine that the early season abundance of Eel Grass was a factor. …

The last of the season’s birdwatching cruises proved to be a good one with reasonable weather and good range of species, especially waders. With high pressure keeping the tide low, we progressed rather slowly up the estuary, as we waited for sufficient water to keep us from grounding.   Shags and Cormorants sporting their respective…

Good light for today’s birdwatching cruise, though a cool northerly breeze stopped it feeling very spring-like.   I glimpsed the wintering adult Bonaparte’s Gull briefly off Exmouth as we left the marina, but failed to find it again later. Amongst the Brent Geese near Exmouth there were at least four birds of the Pale-bellied race.…

A lovely sunny day for my last trip of the year. The sunshine was appreciated by all but it does make it difficult when looking at the waders at Powderham where at least two Spotted Redshanks and four Greenshank were seen with the first Avocets. Towards Topsham wader flocks in the sunshine were impressive even…

Three excellent trips this weekend with high numbers of wading birds seen every day including spectacular views in the air and on the mud.   Knot even showed well amongst the Bar-tailed Godwits and Grey Plovers and Ringed Plovers in double figures were at Turf, a species not usually seen this far up river.    …

I hardly know where to start to describe what a wonderful day it was, so I’ll go with this: Avocet Cruise is a misnomer. Not because there weren’t avocets – there were hundreds and hundreds of that most glamorous bird: vast flocks doing all the F’s – flying, feeding, fighting. It’s a bit early yet…

Guided Bird Watching Review – Tuesday 9th February 2016   Another much improved day, with lovely afternoon light for the cruise. The highlights were a Great Northern Diver at Exmouth, 2 Slavonian Grebes off Cockwood and an adult Mediterranean Gull with hundreds of other gulls gathering to bathe and preen on the river between Topsham…

Guided Bird Watching Review – Sunday 7th February 2016 What a difference a day makes! We travelled up to Topsham in bright conditions with occasional sunshine, though a strengthening wind on the return brought some showers. We saw our old friends like the Harbour (Common) Seal on Bull Hill sandbank and the Slavonian Grebe off…

A combination of high water, strong wind and rain meant there were very few birds seen on this trip. Small waders were nowhere to be seen with the most common species being Avocet and Bar-tailed Godwits, there were good close views of these birds. Just a few Brent Geese on the water, the rest were…