Guided Bird Watching Cruise 3rd November 2025

The weather was dry overcast mild and windy visibility was good and set fair for the duration of our cruise. The Pride of Exmouth with Captain Jake at the helm Steve Manning and Dave Smallshire as spotters we set sail on the first Birding trip of the season along the seafront then up the estuary with great company on board. Plenty of Herring Gulls a couple of Oystercatchers and Common Cormorants were seen loafing on Pole Sands As the tide was making we headed for the Shelly beach area to have a quick check in this location a few Shag were present fishing along with the usual Herring gulls to wet the appetite, a few DB Brent Geese were seen on the shelly side of Bull Hill Sandbar.

There were several Oystercatchers on Dawlish Warren Wildlife Refuge area with Curlew feeding along with several hundred Wigeon with a few Shelduck Turnstones and Dark Bellied Brent Geese. Again a sizeable flock of Dark Bellied Brent Geese were seen at a distance towards Cockwood. Our first sighting of a Little Egret was seen fishing near a group of rocks. Greater Black Backed Gulls and several Common Cormorants were lingering on Bull Hill Sandbar with a juvenile also present with them.Several Great Crested Grebe were seen fishing off Starcross along with a Greenshank and Grey Heron on the shoreline.

Several Little Egrets was seen near the wrecks in the channel, also another Greenshank. Several Redshank 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. Curlew were becoming numerous on both side of the estuary with several feeding along the waters edge off Lympstone and Powderham Estate. In Powderham Estate the herd of Fallow deer were seen grazing the area under the oak trees. In the same area between Lympstone and Exton at least 6 Great Crested Grebe were seen fishing and on the algae and Eel Grass beds numerous Pintail Duck were seen feeding in this area. Between the sailing Club and the cycle path Bridge several Mallard Ducks were seen on the waters edge. Off Exton distant waders could be seen mainly Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit.

Great views of Grey Plover mingled with 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. Our first sightings of at least 50 of the exotic looking Avocets were seen in the channel off the Exe and Clyst confluence where they took flight and headed further up the River Clyst.

A nice contrast between our Mute Swans and their cousins the Black Swans were also seen here.

Along the straight towards Turf lock Ringed Plover Curlew and Redshank were seen here with a great and unexpected sighting of a Spotted Redshank in its winter plumage everyone had a good views at this rare visitor. At the mouth of the Exeter Ship Canal Redshank were again seen here along with a Little Egret our first sighting of several Lapwing were seen here too. Common Redshank 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 some on the edge of the channel. Another Avocet flock was seen at close quarters of the Goatwalk area of Topsham for all to see. Common Redshank were numerous again along this area and a 50+ flock of Lapwing to the sky and circled above the boat before dispersing over the reedbeds. Close to Topsham Quay a nice group of Teal showing off their Male plumage for our visitors.

We turned at Topsham Quay when a shout rang out “Kingfisher” on the chain on the wall. There in all its splendour was this beautiful bird posing for us to take photos of it before we moved on and cruised slowly back to Exmouth where several people saw a seal swimming upstream. In fact a Common and Grey seal was seen briefly on this cruise where some on board were lucky to glimpse one or the other. As we approached Starcross a Peregrine Falcon was spotted by serveral people on the upper deck. 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 of the beautiful Sanderling slurring about on the shoreline where most on boards saw this delightful little wader at close quarters. A small group of 5 Pale Bellied Brent Greese were seen in this area. As we approached Dawlish Warren Wildlife Refuge area the whole of the mixed flock took to the air to give spectacular views of well over 2000 birds mainly Brent Geese Oystercatchers Wigeon Dunlin and Turnstone and the reason a Peregrine Falcon hunting and managed to catch what looked like a “Feral Pigeon” or was it a Turnstone! Only to lose it to two bullish Crows.

Another great birding cruise shared with great company.

Derek Carter