Guided Bird Watching Cruise 25th Feburary 2025

Today’s early start at 10-30am was well timed for the best weather, with mirror-calm sea and bright sunshine. A single Great Northern Diver put in an appearance in the channel opposite Exmouth shortly after we had left the dock. As the tide started to flood, the lower parts of Estuary did not hold many birds other than scattered Curlew and Oystercatchers, but once we reached Starcross the numbers and variety picked up with Red-breasted Mergansers, looking very smart in the sunshine, and Great Crested Grebes in summer plumage. Five seals were draped across some pontoons in the mid-channel: two Grey Seals looked very comfortable in the sunshine, and three Common / Harbour Seals were close by in the water. A second Great Northern Diver was a nice find.

Once we reached Powderham, skipper Will’s decision to cut across the estuary towards Lympstone Commando was well rewarded with two Spoonbills, newly arrived on the estuary a few days ago, which gave good close views along with several hundred Brent Geese. We tried in vain to see the Long-billed Dowitcher at the Turf Lock, but were rewarded with fine views of about a thousand Dunlin, Knot, Grey Plover, one Sanderling.

The expected flock of Golden Plover was visible on the mud opposite Topsham, but by the time we reached the junction with the Clyst they had disappeared into thin air. This coincided with all the Godwits, about 600 in total of two species, huddling into a dense & nervous pack in deep water. The reason for this soon became obvious when a male Peregrine swept past the boat; cue wader chaos as two thousand birds twisted in all directions as they tried to avoid being predated. Curiously the Avocets did not seem scared by this threat, and we enjoyed close views of thirteen as they fed on the edge of the channel.

The return trip demonstrated the dynamic nature of the ecosystem, as the tide flooded over the mud-banks and the waders headed off inland to roost.

Many birds have started to leave the estuary to return to their breeding grounds ‘up north’, but it was good to see Shags and Cormorants in summer plumage, Little Egrets in breeding plumes, and some Grey Herons on their nest in the trees of Powderham Park.

Peter Hopkin