Newsletter

To start the Cruise the visitors were treated to a lone Grey Seal fishing off Pier Head. There were plenty of birds on show today for the visitors with good numbers of Brent Geese throughout the Estuary. Oystercatchers were in Good number to. We were hopeful to see the Red-Necked Grebe which has been on…

Welcome to Stuart Line Cruises’ January Newsletter! This month’s edition will include a round-up of the following highlights as well as details of what to look out for over the next few weeks: British Coach Tourism Awards 2020 FINALISTS! Mother’s Day Cruise Competition LAUNCH! “Oh, the things you can find, if you don’t stay behind”…

Despite very grey skies and murky hilltops this afternoon, we were amazed by the spectacular numbers of birds on the estuary. In particular, over 1200 Black-tailed Godwits graced the mudflats around Turf – a nationally significant flock. These backed by hundreds of Avocets, Lapwings, Golden Plover, Dunlin, Curlews and Redshanks, with a few dozen Knot…

Another great Cruise for the visitor with plenty to see from start to finish. 20+ Red Breasted Mergansers on view from Shelly Beach to Topsham and close to the boat. A bonus Male Black Redstart on the inner side of Dawlish Warren beach showing on the signage board in the dunes. Possibly the Exmouth Marina…

Dull and cloudy (but at least clear!) this afternoon. We started with a Peregrine on Exmouth church tower and a Kingfisher near to Exmouth Marina – a good start. However, pride of place today went to the Long-billed Dowitcher feeding with Black-tailed Godwits at Topsham and a roosting group of 30 Cattle Egrets (counts varied from 28 to 32, but…

What a difference a day makes! With challenging conditions at the start once in the Estuary the visibility improved and the visitors started to see plenty of birds on show. Curlews were in good numbers across the Estuary and the distinctive evocative calls were drifting around the estuary on a light breeze. Several Turnstones were…

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…

This afternoon’s birdwatching cruise was excellent, with a Great Northern Diver and a feeding group of 30 Shags near to the Exmouth Marina. The ‘resident’ Slavonian Grebe and the first of about a dozen Great Crested Grebes were off Cockwood, plus a the first of a meagre 30ish Red-breasted Mergansers. A Peregrine flew over the…

Near perfect conditions, sunny mild and light winds the exe estuary looked stunning. Plenty of photo opportunities with good numbers of birds on show with Shags and Cormorants in the mouth of the estuary 200+ Pintail flying and feeding off Lympstone. 50+ Bar Tailed Godwits and a surprise group of Avocets feeding in the same…

This afternoon’s cruise saw very large numbers of waders on the mudbanks in the upper part of the estuary. In particular, there were well over 1000 Black-tailed Godwits and maybe 750 Golden Plover, together with many hundreds of Lapwings, Curlews and Dunlins, over 300 Avocets and smaller numbers of Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Knot and…