Guided Bird Watching Cruise – 1st February 2026

The weather was showery and occasionally overcast with a southerly wind. Visibility was good 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 Jake at the helm, we set sail along the seafront with great company on board. Oystercatchers, Great Black-backed Gulls and a couple of Curlew were seen foraging on Pole Sands. 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.

There were several Oystercatchers and a couple of Turnstones on the Dawlish Warren Wildlife Refuge area, with Curlew feeding along with a few Shelduck and Dark-bellied Brent Geese in the Shutterton Brook Channel as we sailed by. Great Black-backed Gulls and several Common Cormorants were lingering on Bull Hill Sandbar – as always, a couple were showing early signs of breeding plumage, with the white thigh patch showing under the wings. A couple of Great Crested Grebes were seen fishing off Starcross along with an odd common Redshank; a small flock of Dark-bellied Brent Geese was also seen here. Two Red-breasted Mergansers were seen at a distance, and on the sandbank off Starcross foraging amongst the seaweed, several Turnstones were spotted, though their camouflage made them hard to see.

We passed the River Kenn where several gulls were bathing and two Greenshank and several Redshank were resting on the banks. Several Redshanks were seen towards the sailing club. Black-headed Gulls seemed to be everywhere across the estuary today along with Oystercatchers feeding on the mud. As we passed the Starcross Sailing Club, we viewed two Grey Herons circling the large oaks and one Grey Heron was standing on one of the large nests in the trees. Curlews were also becoming numerous on both sides of the estuary, with several feeding along the water’s edge off Lympstone along with a few Bar-tailed Godwit. Our first sighting of Avocets was near the sailing club and on the opposite side between Lympstone and Exton, at least two 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 Shelduck. Off Exton, distant waders could be seen – mainly Curlew and a few Black-tailed Godwit, along with Dunlin and, again, Little Egret.

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 well over 400 Dark-bellied Brent Geese was seen in the field on Powderham Marsh. At the mouth of the Exeter Ship Canal, Common Redshanks were seen, and a large flock of 500+ Golden Plover was seen on the mudflats towards Topsham. Avocets were now seen all the way to Topsham.

A small flock of Black-tailed Godwit was seen on the mud, and several more were seen again across the mudflats towards Topsham. 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, and a small flock of Bar-tailed Godwits flew towards the River Clyst. Lovely views of at least 11 Red-breasted Mergansers in groups of two, three and four were seen towards Topsham Quay and gave a great flypast as they headed downstream. We turned at Topsham Quay and headed for Exmouth; as we passed the roosting Golden Plover, they all decided to take off, showing great views as they circled the area – another winter spectacle.

As we approached Cockle Sands, Oystercatchers were gathering together ready to go to roost. A few Sanderling were seen at a distance; however, on Bull Hill sandbank several Sanderling were seen at close-quarter. Viewing them in the setting sunshine was a delight. As we approached the Dawlish Warren Wildlife Refuge area, more Oystercatchers were gathering and a large flock of Dunlin was seen here too, with over 1,000 birds going to roost.

Another great birding cruise shared with great company.

Derek Carter