Guided Bird Watching Cruise 13th January 2025

With a cool Southerly breeze, we headed off on our Guided Birdwatching cruise, a full compliment on board weather was dry visibility good, though slighty overcast and plenty to see throughout the estuary to keep us all interested. Captain Rich took us along the seafront and Poll Sands where several Oystercatcher plenty of Herring gulls, and several Crows were waiting their moment a few Great Black Back Gulls and a couple of Curlews were seen foraging amongst the sand and gravel. 8 Common Cormorants were seen on the sandbar off Dawlish Warren with a couple of Shag fishing in the channel. As we entered the river mouth several Dark Bellied Brent Geese were viewed on Bullhill sandbar Along the inside of Dawlish Warren a Great Black Back Gull was seen with a lesser Spotted Dogfish which the gull was trying to eat. DB Brent Geese and a few Shelduck were seen at a distance with several Turnstone foraging and Dunlin and Grey Plover were also seen in Dawlish Warren Wildlife Refuge area. Off Cockwood more Shelduck were seen along with Curlew. Starcross side of Bullhill sandbar several Common Gulls were resting Cormorants and several Shag were also viewed here fishing. In the channel beyond a 3 Red Breasted Mergansers were seen fishing near by in a small channel our first of 4 Greenshank was seen foraging.

Further along toward Starcross several Greater Black Back Gulls were seen here. Our first views of Bar-tailed Godwit were seen & now abundant off Lympstone Black-tailed Godwits were also seen here to. Several Wigeon were in flight with good numbers of Pintail duck feeding on the Eelgrass. Our first views of Avocets just below the River Kenn confluence where the fresh water entered the estuary plenty of gulls mainly Herring and Black headed were bathing and lingering with Curlew Avocets Greenshank and our first Redshank. Further up the estuary, we were blessed with close-up views of a Common Seal which thrilled our visitors. Curlew were numerous along this stretch. Black-tailed Godwit were becoming more abundant the further up the estuary towards Topsham with great close views were had by all on board. Plenty of Redshank Dunlin and Grey Plover Great Crested Grebe Teal were also seen. As we crews towards Turf Lock a Little Grebe was seen in the entrance to the Lock Looking back down the straight a large flock of several hundred DB Brent Geese were in the air and landed on the estuary a truly spectacular sight we looked around to see these birds had been disturbed by two Marsh Harriers which flew towards Haldon hill also seen were two Common Buzzards circling in the same area. As we turned the Turf Lock straight 250+ Golden Plover were spotted and as we got closer the flock showed off their Golden hue. Lapwing were also spotted along with Avocets Dunlin Redshank Grey Plover on both sides of the channel with a few Common Gulls seen at close range. As we cruised to Topsham more BT Godwits were seen close up several hundred were resting. Roughly 150 Avocets were seen around the Goatwalk area with great views sere had by all. At Topsham we turned and headed back to Exmouth on our way back at least 14 Red Breasted Mergansers were seen together mainly male birds but showing an interest to a couple of females. On the return journey Oystercatchers were gathering on the sandbars and we were lucky enough to see only 1 Sanderling at close quarters.

Disappointingly again no juvenile Dark Bellied Bent Geese seen

Another great cruise with great company.

Derek Carter