Sunday 27th January 2013

Still sunny but the wind was quite strong. 

 

 Sanderlings were seen again on the edge of Exmouth beach which was particularly busy. They must be finding a good supply of food there.

 

 

The Common Seal was on Bull Hill with Cormorants stretching their wings and displaying their white breeding patches.

 

 

 

Two Little Grebes and one Slavonian Grebe were seen near the wreck and one male Goldeneye near Cockwood.

 

On the way back several Goldeneye were sighted including five flying over the boat.

 

Near River Kenn the Spotted Redshank was standing very close to a Greenshank with the difference in leg colouring very apparent.

 

 

 

 

 

I saw at least one Heron in the Heronry but none seen on the river, or Little Egrets. Both these species were probably feeding in

clearer waters on the adjacent marshes.

 

At least 300 Brent Geese were at Turf chatting away as we passed. Good views of waders, especially Avocets, but they are

definitely more scattered than in the past.

 

As Dave mentioned earlier, this winter all the flooding we have had has probably spread the food supplies to other areas.

 

No Long-tailed Duck today but the handsome Red-breasted Mergansers were a regular sight.  

 

Ian Waite

Saturday 26th Janaury 2013

Sunshine today and it was a lot warmer, which was obviously appreciated by a slumbering Common Sealhauled up on the sand at Bull Hill.

We found the Spotted Redshank by River Kenn but no Greenshanks. There were distant views of fourteen Goldeneye off Cockwoodbut two Slavonian Grebes were closer on the opposite side of the boat.

Large flocks of Lapwing lifted off Exminster Marshes with an accompanying smaller flock of Golden Plover and approximately

300 Brent Geese were seen in flight over fields at Turf Lock.

On our approach to Topsham, as we started to see waders, an unexpected sighting was a Peregrine. It was perched on a small branch which was lying on the mud, surveying its surroundings. 

As our eyes fell back onto the river the Long-tailed Duck was in close proximity. Two contrasting species.

As we returned accompanied by squadrons of Oystercatchers going to roost, five Gadwall were a surprise and a few Wigeon

were seen reminding us that there are thousands of these ducks wintering on the Exe but usually staying on the marshes.

Ian Waite

Friday 25th January 2013

A cold windy trip but good birding.

 

 

Before we left the dock two Slavonian Grebes were seen from the rear of the boat feeding amongst the buoys.

They were still there when we returned from visiting the mouth of the river where I was surprised to see Oystercatchers and Sanderling sharing the Exmouth beach with dog walkers.

 

 

 

 

Having had good second views of the Slavonian Grebes, comparing their size against handsome Shags, we were soon enjoying an excellent sighting of five Goldeneye including two stunning males.

 

 

 

As we approached Topsham the Long-tailed Duck went down river past the boat, only seen by a few. Obligingly it waitedfor us to return and showed well.

 

After recent cold weather wader numbers appeared to have increased, particularly Godwits and Avocets.

 

Grey Plovers were very confiding today, an opportunity to examine their plumage and “jizz”. Such characters!

 

A cold day but there was a good variety of birds seen

 

Ian Waite

Friday 11th January 2013

Although the weather was brighter with good visibility to start, fine drizzle later in the cruise limited visibility a little – but the birds were still to be seen!

The Slavonian Grebe was again in its favourite area off Cockwood, near Red-breasted Mergansers and a splendid group of 13 Goldeneye that included two drakes. 

Towards Lympstone were Great Crested Grebes, but only five today. A few Sanderlings and Bar-tailed Godwits were seen along the sandier stretches of shoreline in the outer part estuary.

Again, the first Avocets were with Greenshank at Powderham, where the estuary’s sole wintering Spotted Redshank was seen on the return journey. 

Most of the Avocets (500?) and hundreds of Black-tailed Godwits and Dunlins were well scattered over the darker, organic mudbanks between Lympstone and Topsham. 

A few Lapwings were resting on the mud alongside Curlews and a few Grey Plovers as we approached Turf. 

Here a Grey Seal kept surfacing for brief periods to look at us, clearly showing its characteristic Roman-nose profile.

After seeing small numbers of Common Gulls in the outer estuary, there were lots more resting and bathing as we approached Topsham; a rough count suggested over 300, which is a good total for the Exe Estuary. 

The female-type Long-tailed Duck was on the river at Topsham, again giving us excellent views. Although it was alone at first, it joined Red-breasted Mergansers and flew back towards Turf with them.

Dave Smallshire

Thursday 10th January 2013

The first birdwatching cruise of the year was greeted by fog, albeit clearing slowly. 

Although we were denied distant views, anything within half a mile could be seen – just about – and we had no problems with wind or glare!

Two surprises met us in the estuary mouth: an adult Mediterranean Gull on Pole Sands and a (sickly?) Guillemot swimming close to Exmouth beach. 

Plenty of Shags, some sporting the crests of their breeding plumage, were seen in the outer estuary and we had distant views of the Slavonian Grebe that has been resident for the last 6-7 years, but the Harbour Seal was seen only briefly before diving near the boat.

 A Sanderling ran along the tideline at Dawlish Warren and the first of at least 13 Great Crested Grebes was seen opposite Starcross.

A period of mainly light rain cleared away the last of the murk as we chugged upriver.

The first Avocets were scything into the shallows with Greenshanks at Powderham. 

Lots more Avocets, hundreds of Black-tailed Godwits and Dunlins and a good scattering of Little Egrets were seen between Lympstone and Topsham. 

 It was nice to have a Grey Plover fly over the boat, so that we could appreciate its diagnostic black ‘armpits’. 

A few dozen Golden Plovers and Lapwings were resting on the mud. 

At the last moment before the boat turned at Topsham, the star bird of the trip appeared: the wintering Long-tailed Duck. 

It gave good views alongside Red-breasted Mergansers both here and further on towards Turf.

Dave Smallshire

Saturday 12th January 2013

A very different afternoon compared with the previous two days, and the tide much higher with low pressure and an onshore breeze. 

A fresh south-easterly kept the visibility good and, although we still had some showers, the sun came out to shine on the Shags and turn them into ‘Green Cormorants’! 

There were more Shags today in the outer estuary, with at least 70 counted. Great Black-backed Gulls were also more prominent today, with over 100 sitting in groups on the sandbanks. 

The Slavonian Grebe gave quite good views near Dawlish Warren and 11 Goldeneye at Cockwood included one adult drake.

Half a dozen Sanderlings fed along the edge of the sandbank in the centre of the estuary. 

At Powderham, the first Avocets were feeding again as were nine Greenshanks on the return journey. 

Large numbers of Avocets (500?), Black-tailed Godwits (1000?) and Dunlins were feeding widely over the mudbanks between Lympstone and Topsham. 

About 50 Golden Plovers flew over Exminster Marshes with a larger flock of Lapwings. 

As we approached Topsham, we got some better views of Bar-tailed Godwits, but there still no Knot to be found. 

The female-type Long-tailed Duck was again the star bird, giving us good views alongside some nice, close Red-breasted Mergansers.

Dave Smallshire