Guided Bird Watcing Cruise – 18th December 2025

I think it’s fair to say that weather conditions were not ideal for today’s cruise. The outward journey was wet but calm, the return journey became a little livelier and all credit to Rich, our skipper, for a smooth docking at Exmouth in choppy conditions.

But what of the birds? They were slow to show. Bull Hill Sands hosted a group of shags, hunkering down against the rain, plus a handful of gulls, including Herring, Common and Great Black Backed. A few Oystercatchers, Turnstone, Curlew, Grey Plover, Shelduck and Dark-bellied Brent Geese were sheltering in the lee of Dawlish Warren. One or two Redshanks and a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits appeared on the mud as we approached Cockwood and two Great Crested Grebes were swimming and diving off the shore. A Grey Seal was glimpsed tentatively raising its head above the water to assess the weather, then quickly deciding that staying submerged was the best option. A Kingfisher, perched on one of the wrecks, briefly brightened up the day with a flash of azure before roosting and eyeing the fast-flowing water in hope of lunch. As we neared the Kenn outflow, we saw our first group of Avocets feeding by the water’s edge, but it wasn’t until we reached the mudflats opposite the Turf that we saw birds in any number. Sizeable flocks of Black Tailed Godwits were feeding and roosting on the mud, interspersed with Lapwings, Dunlin and a good number of Golden Plover. We also had distant views of Pintails and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers on the water and then in flight. More Avocets appeared, busily wading and swimming as they fed, and two flocks of Godwits treated us to a dramatic, low-level fly-past. Then, from the fields and marshes behind Turf Locks rose two large flocks of Dark Bellied Brent Geese, which passed over the boat, filling the air with their gentle ‘quink’ call. An absolute delight for those passengers still braving the upper deck!

The mud off the Clyst and Topsham held only small numbers of waders, mainly Avocet, Dunlin and Redshank. From Topsham the return journey became a little blustery with reduced visibility. But that’s the estuary for you, an ever-changing environment where a sense of wildness is never far away.

As I drove home the wind dropped, the sun emerged and it was if the foul weather had never happened!

Steve Manning