Wednesday 21st March - a little extra trip!

Obviously most of our winter visitors had left but there was still plenty to see on this late trip.

Shag

As usual we started by visiting the beds outside the mouth of the river and I was surprised to see approximately 200 Brent Geese in and around these beds. There was still lots of Eel Grass remaining here providing food for these Brents.

Most of the waders were together some way down river from Topsham.  There were at least 250 Black-tailed Godwits, some developing their beautiful summer colours, with a few Bar-tails and Dunlin.

A group of six Great Crested Grebes and good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers gave good views.

 

Highlight of the trip was our resident Common Seal lying on a sand bar very close to the boat surrounded by 19 Sanderling.

Our resident seal sharing the bank with Sanderlings

Oystercatchers, a bird not often mentioned, but such an attraction, were still in good numbers and I look forward to seeing them and all the other species next winter.

Ian Waite

Sunday 18th March - last of the season!

Sunday 18th March
A glorious sunny morning for the last birdwatching cruise of the season, continuing a spell of fine weather that has seen some earlydepartures of wintering birds. 

Although the Avocets seem to have left a little early, it was nice to see a recently arrived migrant Sandwich Tern sitting on a buoy off Exmouth seafront. Grebes featured again in the estuary, with some nice views of at least 6 Great Crested; unfortunately the Slavonian and a couple of Little Grebes were only seen at a distance. About 20 Shags and rather more Cormorants,including splendid adults of both species in breeding finery, were seen, sometimes at very close range. 

Red-breasted Mergansers were still present in good numbers(maybe 50), but Brent Geese, Wigeon and Teal numbers are now much reduced. A Buzzard flew over the boat heading towards Exmouth from Dawlish Warren, most probably a migrant bird, and several others could be seen displaying in the breeze over the hills surrounding the estuary.



A tight flock of Golden Plovers sat on the mud near Turf and we had good views of Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits at Topsham, though only a dozen of the latter. The wader highlight was the Spotted Redshank with several Greenshanks off Powderham, where Herons could be seen attending nests.

Surprisingly, only one Common Gull was seen. 

The resident Common (Harbour) Seal was hauled out on Bull Hill sandbank, giving great views.

Common Harbour Seal

Can’t wait until next winter!



Best wishes






Dave

Wednesday 7th March & Thursday 8th March

Wednesday 7^th March

A strong wind coming down the river and low tide combined with high pressure meant very low water and a trip exceeding 4 hours.

As usual we first visited the beds out towards the sea where, as expected this time of year there were quite a few Brent Geese feeding on the Eel Grass.  Having grazed most of the vegetation in the River during the winter this area provides a further source of their favourite food.  They will need it as they will soon be making their long journey north.

The first section of the River was low on birds probably due to the strong winds and it was surprising to see a flock of Grey plovers at the Dawlish Warren end.

We had brief views of Spotted Redshank at Powderham, the Slavonian Grebe was seen  and Great Crested Grebes were still in double figures.  Waders were spread out and only 20 Avocets were seen. Bar- tailed Godwits numbers were also down.

Two female Goldeneye took off and flew past the boat and a first for my trips this year, a flock of Golden Plovers flew in front of the boat heading towards Exminster Marshes.

 

Thursday 8^th March

The wind had dropped today but still the trip lasted over 4 hours due to low water.

A similar picture to yesterday but the best view yet of the Spotted Redshank with the Greenshanks at Powderham and of the Slavonian Grebe diving close to the boat.

There were good views of Turnstone in and around the boats at Dawlish End. At Topsham only a few Avocets and Bar-tailed Godwits.  It would appear many birds have left for their breeding areas already although Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin numbers are still well up.  Perhaps it’s because they have shorter distances to go?

One advantage of finishing late was that we saw the Little Egrets going into roost in a conifer at the southern end of Powderham.  Like snowflakes on the tree.

My last trip this year with a distinct feeling that it won’t be long before our winter visitors will be off, hopefully for a successful breeding season.

Ian Waite
To close my last Bird Watching trip for this season, here are some fantastic photos by Sue Smith of the rarer birds on these trips

Spotted Red Shank

Slavonian Grebe

Golden Eye

 All Photgraphs copywrite of Sue Smith

A trip with Swarovski and London Camera Exchange

A private trip for Swarovski and London Camera Exchange allowing enthusiasts to try out the latest in camera, binoculars and digiscoping
www.digiscoping.co.uk 
Below are some fantastic photos taken by Sue Smith

Wednesday 22nd February

Despite poor weather being forecast, as so often proves to be the case on a cruise, the reality was much better! The even light was again good for looking towards both sides of the estuary. The tide was again low as we left Exmouth, and again we spent a while near Lympstone waitingfor the rising tide to help us on our way (though today the passing ‘skeletontrain’ was returning north laden with timber!). Several windsurfers, taking advantage of the fresh westerly, seemed to be responsible for a lack of waderson Pole Sands, although our first Brent Geese feeding close to the beach walkers at Exmouth seemed quite unfazed.



Inside the estuary, we found at least 9 Goldeneye and 17 Great Crested Grebes, but the stars were two Slavonian Grebes together near Lympstone: the closest views were of a newcomer, including in flight (sadly the ‘resident’ bird seems unable to fly). The Spotted Redshank was feeding in shallow water again with Greenshanks at its favoured freshwater outlet at Powderham. Sanderlings were again feeding along the sandbanks, but not as many as yesterday. All of the approximately 510Avocets were lined up to give superb views between Turf and Topsham, where large numbers of Dunlin, Grey Plovers and both Godwit species were feeding. The main flock of Brent Geese was out in the fields, but too far away for us to find the Red-breasted Goose that was presumably with them.

Dave Smallshire

Tuesday 21st February

The light was beautiful for this afternoon’s cruise: nice even light to start with and then the sun came out on our return to show the lovely colours on nearby Shags and Red-breasted Mergansers. It also helped us to locate a total of 23 Sanderlings, which shone as they fed actively along the edges of the estuary’s sandbanks. The tide took its time coming in, causing us to ground for a while off Lympstone, from where we had the unusual sight of a ‘skeleton train’! (Actually, this was later correctly identified as a timber train, returning to load up with fellings from near Heathfield.)


 





But back to birds. Great Crested Grebes totalled at least 16, and we had close views of the ‘resident’ Slavonian Grebe, which has moved upriver to near Turf. The Spotted Redshank was feeding in shallow water at Powderham, near two smart drake Goldeneyes. 
 




After passing a Common (Harbour) Seal near Turf, we soon found our first Avocets. The main flock of Avocets, however, was lined up as we approached Topsham, together with hundreds of Dunlin, maybe 200 Bar-tailed Godwits and then about 900 Black-tailed: ‘waderfest’ indeed! Unfortunately, a large flock of Brent Geese bathing and preening nearby flew off before we could find the Red-breasted Goose amongst them.

Dave Smallshire

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Sunday 19th February

Taken by Tom Wallis

  What a wonderful sunny day bringing smiles to the faces on board and illuminating the superb flocks of waders present.

Taken by Tom Wallis

Taken by Tom Wallis

  There were 24 Sanderlings today, a total very near to the maximum for this species in February.  Great Crested Grebes were still in double figures and some on board saw the Slavonian Grebe, surprisingly at Powderham.

Taken by Tom Wallis

Also at this location there was a small group of waders, mixed species illustrating differences in size.

Taken by Tom Wallis

Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwits and Dunlin were in close proximity.

There were thousands of Dunlin seen today in flight and on the mud.

Just a few Knot and 100 Grey Plovers in flight.

Highlight for a lot of passengers was at Topsham- a Peregrine Falcon trying to catch its lunch. Not only were there good views of the aerial display put on by this bird but there were large numbers of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits that took flight in the sunlight alarmed by the presence of this predator.

  A Common Seal was resting on the sand as we entered the river and still there as we returned, totally unperturbed by our presence.

Taken by Tom Wallis

Taken by Tom Walllis

Ian Waite

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