Guided Bird Watching Cruise – Oct 31 2024

Well what a start to the 2024/25 Guided Bird Watching Cruise season with a full compliment on board! The weather was mild with little wind and good visibility with plenty to see throughout the Estuary to keep us all interested. Captain’ed by the skillful Captain Will, he took us along the seafront to Poll Sands where several Oystercatcher, plenty of Herring gulls, a few Great Black Back Gulls and a couple of Curlews were seen foraging amongst the sand and gravel. Common Cormorants were seen on the sandbar off Dawlish Warren. As we entered the River Exe, Dark Bellied Brent Geese were viewed in good numbers. Along the inside of Dawlish Warren DB Brent Geese and Shelduck were seen at a distance with a lone Turnstone. Our first views of Great Crested Grebes in their winter plumage were seen with a total of 18+ seen throughout the cruise. A very special sight to see!

Further along, toward Starcross, Grey Heron and Little Egrets were seen where the latter seemed plentiful throughout the estuary feeding on prey in the margins and pools. As we navigated up river, we saw DB Brent Geese, now in abundant numbers, just off Lympstone with plenty of Black-tailed Godwit and two Bar-tailed Godits. Also seen here were good numbers of Pintail duck feeding on the Eelgrass. Further up the estuary, we were blessed with close-up views of a Common Seal and pup, keeping them company were Curlew in numerous amounts along this stretch. Black-tailed Godwit were becoming more abundant the further up the estuary towards Topsham we went, with great close views were had by all on board. Greenshank and Redshank were also seen. In the distance towards the River Clyst the Black Swan family were seen now totalling 7, 5 grown Cygnets and the proud Adult parents. As we turned to the Turf Lock straight, 350+ Golden Plover were spotted and as we got closer the flock showed off their Golden hue with a spectacular show. Lapwing were also spotted along with Dunlin and Black headed with a few Common Gulls. As we cruised to Topsham more BT Godwits were seen close up amongst them. 3 Spotted Redshank were briefly seen as they were took to the air and disappeared. Roughly 150 Lapwing were seen off the Goatwalk at Topsham where we turned and headed back to Exmouth. On the return journey Oystercatchers were gathering on the sandbars and we were lucky enough to see 6 Sanderling at a distance.

Alas no Avocet on this cruise, it is still very mild and many birds are staying put until the weather turns colder. A lot of the Exe Avocets come over from the Netherlands and the eastern counties of the UK, so the mild weather will keep them there until winter arrives.

Disappointingly very few juvenile Dark Bellied Bent Geese have arrived this Autumn on the Exe all of the birds seen up to now are adult birds. Climate change and global warming seem to be having an indirect impact on these birds as lemmings, the staple prey for the Artic Fox, are turning to the Brent goslings for their food and cash larders for their winter survival. Overall, the cruise was full of interesting views and birds with a great time had by all. I especially enjoyed the warm Chunk pasty and the low flying Chinook helicopter as we approached port.

It was a great cruise enjoyed by all.

Derek Carter