We headed up the estuary in the aftermath of Storm Isha, which passed through overnight leaving a sunny day but still a strong north-westerly winds blowing down the estuary. Making for the ornithological pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, saw a Shag sitting on a buoy (of course) and the first of 15-20 each of Red-breasted Mergansers and Great Crested Grebes. Dozens of Brent Geese and Shelducks were feeding in the Dawlish Warren Wildlife Refuge at ‘Cockwood Corner’.
A few Greenshanks were scattered around Starcross and then excitement built as we approached Powderham: first a sprinkling of Avocets were feeding in the shallow water and the the day’s star turn, a Spoonbill. This immature bird continued feeding as we turned the boat around so all on board could watch it sweeping its bill from side to side.
More Avocets followed: clearly the rains earlier in the month had scoured the soft sediments off the surface mud further up the estuary and the birds were more spread out.
A few Pintail and a Guillemot were near Lympstone, the latter no doubt a casualty of the storm – it should have been out to sea!
As usual, most of the waders were concentrated between Turf and Topsham. Hundreds each of Avocets, both Black- and Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlews, Redshanks and Dunlins were along the river banks and scattered over the food-rich mudflats; smaller numbers of Knot and Grey Plovers were amongst them.
We had some nice views of Mergansers around Turf and some excellent flight displays by the waders. There was a distant flock of Golden Plovers over Exminster Marshes, but no sign of Marsh Harrier – only a Buzzard!
Returning back towards Exmouth there were a few groups of Sanderlings running along the sandbank edges and an Eider duck swam away from us.
Dave Smallshire
Get To Know Us!
Sign up to our newsletter for monthly highlights, entertaining anecdotes and details of upcoming cruises and events!