Guided Bird Watching Cruise – 19th December 2025

In lovely sunny conditions, we had a splendid cruise up the estuary. Heavy rain the day before had flooded extensively the grazing marshes at Exminster and up the Clyst Valley. One of the most important birds on the Exe, Black-tailed Godwit, was conspicuous by its absence today – I suspect the high water table in the marshes caused most of them to go feeding there instead the usual estuary mudbanks.

Brent Geese, however, were very obvious, with large numbers still grazing within the estuary, especially in the ‘Cockwood Corner’ Wildlife Refuge area at Dawlish Warren. Here there were also a few dozen Knot feeding, along with groups of Oystercatchers, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwits, Shelduck and a few Turnstones. Great Crested Grebes were scattered throughout the estuary in singles and a Kingfisher was spotted near Starcross, although it was hard to see. A big flock of corvids circled up over Starcross, something they like to do on fine, breezy days in autumn and winter – were they just having fun, or was there a more serious motive, I wonder?

Several Greenshanks were feeding along the shoreline by the River Kenn outlet at Powderham, together with the first few Avocets. Most of the Avocets, however, were feeding in the shallows and across the oozy mudflats between Turf and Topsham, along with Dunlin and a few Grey Plovers. A group of Red-breasted Mergansers gave us good views here, one of the males displaying to a female.

After turning around at Topsham Quay, we saw a Marsh Harrier flying and later a Kestrel hovering, testament to the importance of the marshes for raptors. The absence of Lapwings and Golden Plovers on the mudflats reinforced the view that Exminster Marshes were providing good feeding opportunities today (although we did see a distant flock of what were presumed to be the latter flying up the estuary as we passed Starcross on the return journey). There were about 20 Sanderlings feeding along the frothy edges of Bull Hill sandbank, and after everyone had disembarked, I saw that one of the Pied Wagtails that always comes on board to clean up the pasty and mince-pie crumbs has lost a leg; it seemed to manage Ok though.

Three Grey Seals were around a pontoon off Starcross: as we approached them, one shot out of the water and landed close to the smaller one of two already present; the small seal immediately lunged into the water closely followed by the incomer. Near Topsham, we had nice views of a Harbour Seal resting out on the mud.

Dave Smallshire