Thoughts from Dave and Ian...

Providing the commentary on a Guided Bird Watching Cruise is no small effort.  You are being the eyes of everybody on board making sure you spot everything from the regular visitors to the unique and rare at the same time as offering information on habitat, lifestyle, feeding, plumage and breeding.  All this has to be in a clear voice over the PA system and most importantly make sense!
Stuart Line Cruises feel privileged to have the services of Dave Smallshire and Ian Waite once again for the 2011 and 2012 season.

Here are their thoughts for the coming season;



Dave Smallshire


 Having spent over six months looking over the Exe Estuary from its shores, I’m really looking forward to getting out again amongst all the birds. The Brent Geese returning from Siberia have brought lots of young with them, so their numbers should be significantly higher this winter. Our ‘resident’ Slavonian Grebe is still here, so we’ll be looking out for it around Cockwood during the cruises. An American Wigeon has joined the Wigeon flock, but that will be a real challenge to find!







Ian Waite


Great!  Another season enjoying the thousands of birds on the Exe.  Such a spectacle and I am sure there will be a few surprises amongst our regular waders and wildfowl.
Every trip is different and I am looking forward to sharing the experiences with newcomers and familiar faces.






A review of will be published on here after a trip is completed so that even if you have not been able to sail on the river you can keep in touch with what we've seen.
We would also like to be able to publish your photographs from the trips (all accreditations given) in this blog and on our Facebook page so please send them into us at info@birdwatchingcruises.co.uk.  Here are a some pictures taken last season by Sue Smith during a cruise in March 2011

And so it begins.....

November is fast approaching and that means so is that first Guided Bird Watching Cruise with Stuart Line Cruises.
Once again we will be joined by Dave Smallshire and Ian Waite to give an informative and enlightening commentary throughout the trip;
Below is some information about them and in our next post they will be giving their thoughts on the coming season.


Ian Waite - In the last twenty years Ian has been an enthusiastic bird watcher in the local area.  He leads bird watching groups for various societies and provides commentary on Bird watching Tram Trips on the River Axe.  He is a member of The Devon Bird watching and Preservation Society and the Devon Wildlife Trust and is a committee member for a local Conservation Society.









Dave Smallshire - An avid bird watcher for 45 years, with a special interest in wetland birds. David has an intimate knowledge of the Exe Estuary’s wildlife, which has been his ‘local patch’ for nearly 25 years, he does the Wetland Bird Survey counts every month on the estuary between Starcross and Dawlish Warren. His interests span all aspects of wildlife, notably dragonflies – about which he has written a highly acclaimed field guide









Each cruise departs from Exmouth aboard a vessel with and open top deck and an enclosed and heated lower deck.  The vessel has toilets on board and a refreshments bar serving hot and cold drinks, snacks and Homemade Soup.

Advanced Booking is Essential on 01395 279693