Guided Bird Watching Cruise – 19th January 2026

The weather was dry and murky. Visibility was good to poor with reports of an improving picture for the duration of our cruise, but it turned out to be a beautiful, sunny and calm ending. With the Pride of Exmouth and Captain Rich at the helm, we set sail along the seafront with great company on board. Plenty of Oystercatchers, a Great Black-backed Gull, and a couple of Curlew were seen foraging on Pole Sands. Paul Bray, a local birder, called out two Peregrines on the church tower; I was amazed as, in 8 years of commentating, I have never seen Peregrines on the tower from the boat – so that is a line I cannot use for the next 8 years! We all saw these amazing predators that keep the feral pigeons at bay over Exmouth.

As the tide was making, we headed for the Shelly Beach area to have a quick check; in this location, a couple of Shags were present along with the usual Herring Gulls. A small flock of DB Brent Geese were seen on the Shelly side of Bull Hill Sandbar. There were several Oystercatchers on the Dawlish Warren Wildlife Refuge area, with Curlew feeding along with a few distant Wigeon, a few Shelduck, and Dark-bellied Brent Geese in the Shutterton Brook Channel as we sailed by.

Our first sighting of a Little Egret was seen fishing near a group of rocks. Great Black-backed Gulls and several Common Cormorants were lingering on Bull Hill Sandbar as always. Several Great Crested Grebes were seen fishing off Starcross along with a Greenshank, a Redshank, and a Grey Heron. A large flock of DB Brent Geese were also seen. Two Red-breasted Mergansers – a male and two females – were seen in the channel on Cockle Sands. We had a close-up sighting of our first Grey Seal on a grey pontoon, then another two further upstream off Starcross. A lone Mute Swan was seen here too.

A Little Egret and Grey Heron were seen near the wrecks in the channel; also, a Greenshank was seen in this location with a couple of Bar-tailed Godwit. Several Redshanks were seen towards the River Kenn confluence along with several Shelduck, with a large flock of Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls present as well. Curlews were becoming numerous on both sides of the estuary, with several feeding along the water’s edge off Lympstone. Our first sighting of Avocets was near the Kenn confluence. In the same area between Lympstone and Exton, at least six Great Crested Grebes were seen fishing.

Between the sailing club and the cycle path bridge, several Mallard ducks were seen on the water’s edge along with several Teal. Off Exton, distant waders could be seen, mainly Curlew and a few Black-tailed Godwit, along with good numbers of Dunlin and, again, Little Egret. Great views of 3 Grey Plover mingled with a few Dunlin were feeding on the wet mudflats. Again, good numbers of Dunlin in flight were buzzing about over the mudflats. At least 100 exotic-looking Avocets were seen upstream of the Starcross Yacht Club, and in the channel off the Exe and Clyst confluence, more Avocets were seen across the mudflats as they took flight and headed further up the River Clyst.

Along the straight towards Turf Lock, a large flock of over 400 DB Brent Geese was seen in flight heading towards the rear of the boat; they split up and one group landed in the estuary while the other group circled the area and headed for Powderham Marsh – this was a real spectacle for all on board. At the mouth of the Exeter Ship Canal, a Kingfisher was seen by a birder. Common Redshanks, Common Gulls, 100+ Lapwing with a few Golden Plover were also seen in this area along with plenty of Dunlin. Black-tailed Godwit in good numbers were seen here too.

As we turned the Turf Lock straight, Dunlin and Grey Plover were again seen across the mudflats. A small flock of Black-tailed Godwit were on the edge of the channel. Across the mudflats towards Topsham, we had a great sighting of roosting Golden Plover (500+ was a fair estimate). Another Avocet flock was seen at close quarters off the Goat Walk area of Topsham for all to see. Common Redshanks were numerous again along this area, with a large flock including a few Bar-tailed Godwits, a large number of Black-tailed Godwits, and a nice group of Knot in attendance which took off and headed for the Clyst.

There was again a nice group of Teal after the Goat Walk; at least 11 Red-breasted Mergansers were seen towards the Topsham Quay and gave a great flypast as they headed downstream. It was reported a male Goldeneye was seen recently, then as we were turning to head homewards we spotted the Goldeneye further upstream, which was another bonus bird for the day.

As we approached Cockle Sands and Bull Hill Sandbar, Oystercatchers were gathering together ready to go to roost. On Bull Hill we saw 11 Sanderlings scurrying about on the shoreline, where most on board saw this delightful little wader at close quarters. As we approached the Dawlish Warren Wildlife Refuge area, Oystercatchers were gathering and were seen at close quarters along the sandbar as we headed for Exmouth Marina.

Another great birding cruise shared with great company.

Derek Carter