Guided Bird Watching Cruise 11th Feburary 2025

It was another cold and overcast day but pleasantly calm as we set out from Exmouth a little
after 12:30pm. The shingle beds of Pole Sands held good numbers of Oystercatchers and
Curlews as usual and the sharp-eyed on board picked out a few Eider out on the sea beyond
the distant surf line. Moving up the estuary past Dawlish Warren we added a Great Northern
Diver, several Cormorants, a few Shags and the first of many Brent Geese to our sightings
along with some Shelduck and Little Egrets, a small group of Great-crested Grebes and a
few Greater Black-backed Gulls. At Turf lock we found the estuary’s wintering Long-billed
Dowitcher (a rarity all the way from North America) feeding in it its favourite sheltered spot.
Several Grey Herons were out along the water’s edge here too and as we proceeded we
met the first of several hundred Avocets, a tight flock of 40 or so out in the shallows feeding
together in close formation, a wonderful sight! There were lots of Dunlin and Redshank
scattered across the mudflats too plus both Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, a few Grey
plover and good numbers of colourful Teal.

A large gathering of Pintail scattered along the water’s edge near the mouth of the Clyst
were good to see as were a dense flock of Lapwing roosting out on the mudflats. As we
watched the Lapwing a cloud of Golden Plover, over 300 strong, descended to join them, a
lovely sight. Nearing Topsham we saw several Red-breasted Mergansers in the channel and
we ultimately enjoyed some great views of these fabulous-looking birds, including three
males courting a female. A Marsh Harrier unfortunately remained high and distant but as we
made our way back down the estuary we were treated to close views of five Grey Seals,
three youngsters and two huge adults, hauled out on a pontoon. They eyed us with vague
interest as we passed. Perhaps we ought to have sung to them; that would have got their
attention!

Finally, as we passed Great Bull Hill we found a few Sanderling foraging along the strand
line, a nice end to a great cruise!
Andy Smith