Guided Bird Watching Cruise – 3rd December 2025

Well, what a cruise we had today weather was dry sunny light winds and visibility was good all set fair for the duration of our cruise. The Pride of Exmouth with Captain Jake at the helm we set sail along the seafront then up the estuary with great company on board. Plenty of Herring Gulls, a couple of oystercatchers, Common Cormorants & Oystercatchers were seen loafing on Pole Sands. As the tide was making, we headed for the Shelly beach area to have a quick check in this location, a few Shag were present fishing along with the usual Herring gulls to wet the appetite, a good number of DB Brent Geese were seen off Dawlish Warren sea front. 

There were several Oystercatchers on Dawlish Warren Wildlife Refuge area with Curlew feeding along with a few Wigeon with a few Shelduck, a close up Turnstone and Dark Bellied Brent Geese. Again a sizeable flock of Dark Bellied Brent Geese were seen at a distance towards Cockwood. Our first sighting of a Little Egret was seen fishing near a group of rocks. Greater Black Backed Gulls and several Common Cormorants with juveniles and several Shag were lingering on Bull Hill Sandbar. Several Great Crested Grebe were seen fishing off Starcross along with a Greenshank and Grey Heron on the shoreline. Jake manoeuvred the boat to enter the main channel off Starcross where we witnessed 5 Grey Seals on a pontoon and at least two others swimming in the water close by.

Several Little Egrets was seen near the wrecks in the channel, a couple of Bar-Tailed Godwit was seen here and also another Greenshank and Grey Heron amongst the Wreck. Several Redshank were seen towards the River Kenn confluence along with several Shelduck with Grey Heron, another two Greenshank present as well. Curlew were becoming numerous on both sides of the estuary with several feeding along the waters edge off Lympstone and Powderham Estate. Our first Avocet were seen in this area on the Powderham side of the Estuary. In Powderham Estate, the herd of Fallow deer were seen grazing the area under the oak trees. In the same area between Lympstone and Exton at least 10 Great Crested Grebe were seen fishing and on the algae and Eel Grass beds numerous Pintail Duck were seen feeding in this area. Between the sailing Club and the cycle path Bridge several Mallard and Wigeon Ducks were seen on the waters edge. Avocets were seen here too. Off Exton distant waders could be seen, mainly Curlew Black-tailed Godwit Dunlin Pintail duck and Mute Swans.  

Great views of Grey Plover mingled with Dunlin were feeding on the wet mudflats they all decided to take flight and flew in front of the boat and over the mudflats showing off their aerobatics. Our first sightings of at least 30 of the exotic looking Avocets were seen in the channel off the Exe and Clyst confluence, where they took flight and headed further up the River Clyst. 

Along the straight towards Turf lock Curlew and Redshank also Avocets and Dark Bellied Brent Geese were seen here with a Great Crested Grebe fishing. At the mouth of the Exeter Ship Canal Redshank were again seen here along with a Little Egret our first sighting of several Lapwing were seen here too also on the mudflats near this area, 300+ golden Plover were resting the sun showed off the golden hue in the morning light. Common Redshank and Common Gulls were numerous in this area and all the way to Topsham.

As we turned the Turf Lock straight Dunlin and Grey Plover were again seen across the Mudflats. A large flock of Black-tailed Godwit some on the edge of the channel. Another Avocet flock was seen at close quarters off the Goatwalk area of Topsham for all to see. Common Redshank were numerous again along this area Grey Plover and Dunlin were also numerous. Opposite Topsham Quay on a branch in the mud a great view of a Kingfisher was spotted; many had the privilege of seeing this beautiful bird. Beyond the quay a common Sandpiper was seen foraging on the mudbank while further up the river, a nice flock of Teal our smallest duck was seen. 

While all this was going on a visitor had spotted and photographed a large Tern off Dawlish Warren, between us we posted photos and WhatApp’ed a few people and the rare Tern was spotted again in the same area, first thoughts was this bid was a Royal Tern but it was later identified as a Lesser Crested Tern found in the subtropics and could have drifted north by warm southerly winds. We were to look for this bird later.

As we approached Cockle Sands and Bull Hill Sandbar, Oystercatchers were gathering together ready to go to roost and on both sandbars we saw several of the beautiful Sanderling skurrying about on the shoreline where most on boards saw this delightful little wader at close quarters. As we approached Dawlish Warren Wildlife Refuge area all eyes were on the lookout for the Tern where we weren’t disappointed when the bird landed on a round yellow buoy so everyone could see this very rare bird at close quarters. Great excitement was had by all.

 Another great birding cruise shared with great company.

Derek Carter