Guided Bird Watching Cruise – 1st March 2026

A fresh breeze, sunny intervals, and an absence of rain made for a most enjoyable trip today. Our winter visitors will soon be returning to their breeding grounds, and indeed some have already departed, leaving bird numbers a little sparse. But there was still plenty to enjoy, especially three Spoonbills which landed on the mud just as I was hoping that we might see some, or all, of the five currently on the estuary.

A few hundred Dark-bellied Brent Geese remain on the estuary with small, presumably family groups, keeping us company throughout our trip. Also still present in large numbers were Black-tailed Godwits, many now moulting into summer breeding plumage. Most were gathered on the mud below the River Clyst, where they were interspersed with Common Redshank, a handful of Knot, and a scattering of Bar-tailed Godwits. Curlews were ubiquitous from Pole Sands up to Topsham and their plaintive call often rang out across the mudflats – reminding us that they too will soon be leaving.

One Greenshank was spotted feeding, as usual, at the Kenn Outflow and three Grey Plover were seen at the back of Dawlish Warren where there were also Oystercatchers. Avocet numbers are now greatly reduced with only four spotted on our approach to Topsham, where a Turnstone was foraging along the water’s edge.

Ducks were in short supply with a distant glimpse of a small ‘spring’ of Teal above Turf Locks, four Mallard and a few pairs of Red-breasted Mergansers fishing alongside the boat or flying overhead. Great Crested Grebes were also present in the main channel.

Cormorants outnumbered Shags today, contrary to most trips this winter when the estuary has held good numbers of the latter. Many of the Cormorants were flaunting their white thigh patches indicative of breeding birds. Three Grey Herons were in residence at the Powderham heronry, and one or two Little Egrets were feeding on the mud below.

Gull numbers had dropped from their post-storm abundance a few weeks ago, but all the usual suspects were nevertheless present: Great Black-backed Gull, three or four Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls and Common Gulls.

Finally, a seal did pop up to give us a cursory glance. So cursory that I was unable to confirm whether it was Grey or Common. Yet again a pleasure to be out on the estuary and thanks to Rich, our skipper, for making it a smooth journey.

Steve Manning