Saturday 9th February 2013

With calm conditions and nice even light, this afternoon’s cruise was near perfect for viewing the estuary. Soon after leaving, the head of a Harbour Seal poked above the surface as if to look at us.

Sanderling

As sometimes happens, the tide was lower than expected, so we had more time to dally on our way to Topsham. 

Sanderling with Turnstone

We were able to make a close approach to a very obliging Sanderling that ran along the tideline at Dawlish Warren, giving everyone great views of this palest of our wintering sandpipers. Nearby was a close Little Grebe and then, more distant, the resident Slavonian Grebe. Around 50 Rooks had joined the Crows on the mussel beds.

The drakes in a small group of Red-breasted Mergansers courted the females with exaggerated head postures.

 Later, among a group of Goldeneyes, two handsome drakes threw back their heads and splashed out with their feet. 

After passing five Greenshanks at Powderham, the wintering Spotted Redshank finally came into view.

Bar Tailed Godwit in flight

Several large groups of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits were off Lympstone, though as usual we had the best views of these at Topsham, where there were some close Bar-tailed Godwits for comparison.

Bar Tailed Godwit

The female Long-tailed Duck stayed on the edge of the channel as we passed by, providing most people with their ‘bird of the cruise’. 

A couple of dozen Teal dabbled in the mud, the emerald green speculum of some glinting through their wing feathers. Two Greylag Geese flew over the river as we turned to make our return – there is a small feral population on the marshes. 

Returning, a large flock of Brent Geese had landed at one of their favoured bathing and preening spots near Topsham.

As a final treat, we watched both male and female Peregrines sitting on Bull Hill sandbank and taking off.

Dave Smallshire

all photographs provided by Dave Smallshire