Guided Bird Watching Cruise – 2nd January 2026

The weather was dry and sunny with a cold northerly wind blowing down the estuary. Visibility was good and set fair for the duration of our cruise, but with a possibility of a light shower. With the Pride of Exmouth and Captain Will at the helm, we set sail along the seafront then up the estuary with great company on board. Plenty of Herring Gulls, a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls, Oystercatchers, and Common Cormorants 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. A small flock of DB Brent Geese were seen on the Shelly side of Bull Hill Sandbar.

On Dawlish Warren, a lone Raven was seen foraging. There were several Oystercatchers and a lone Sanderling on the Dawlish Warren Wildlife Refuge area, with Curlew feeding along with a few 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. Several Great Crested Grebes were seen fishing off Starcross along with a Greenshank and DB Brent Geese. Three Red-breasted Mergansers – a male and two females – were seen in the channel off Starcross, and a nice flock of 20-30 Turnstones on the sandbar, which was pleasing to the visitors. A close-up sighting of our first Grey Seal in the water was also seen in this area.

A Little Egret was seen near the wrecks in the channel; also, a Greenshank was seen in this location. Several Redshanks were seen towards the River Kenn confluence along with several Shelduck, with a large flock of Herring Gulls, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 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 Powderham Estate, a small herd of Fallow deer were seen grazing the area under the oak trees. In the same area between Lympstone and Exton, at least eight Great Crested Grebes were seen fishing, and on the algae and Eelgrass beds, numerous Pintail ducks were seen feeding. Between the sailing club and the cycle path bridge, several Mallard ducks were seen on the water’s edge. Off Exton, distant waders could be seen, mainly Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit, along with good numbers of Dunlin and, again, Little Egrets.

Great views of Grey Plover mingled with a few Dunlin were feeding on the wet mudflats; they all decided to take flight and flew in front of the boat and over the mudflats, showing off their aerobatics. Again, good numbers of Dunlin in flight were buzzing about over the mudflats. Our first sightings of at least 30 of the 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 as they took flight and headed further up the River Clyst.

Along the straight towards Turf Lock, a large flock of over 100 DB Brent Geese was seen on the water’s edge; several small groups took off and circled the area – this was a real spectacle for all on board. At the mouth of the Exeter Ship Canal, Common Redshanks and Common Gulls were numerous in this area and all the way to Topsham.

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, a great sighting of roosting Golden Plover (300+ 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. Close to Topsham Quay, there was again a nice group of Teal, and in front of the Quay, a lone Common Sandpiper was seen foraging. A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were seen as the boat turned to head back to Exmouth. It was reported a Goldeneye and Kingfisher were seen in the area, but the majority of folk missed these two.

Before we left the area and cruised slowly back to Exmouth, several people saw a Common Seal.

As we approached Cockle Sands and Bull Hill Sandbar, Oystercatchers were gathering together ready to go to roost, and on both sandbars, we saw several 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 a few more Sanderlings were seen at close quarters along the water’s edge as we headed for Exmouth Marina. Another great birding cruise shared with great company.

Derek Carter