Exe Estuary boat trip
Twenty-one of us joined the Stuart Line Birdwatching cruise from Exmouth. Unfortunately, several people had had to drop out due to illness, but the rest of us enjoyed the cruise on what turned out to be a bright and calm morning. Derek Carter provided a very informative commentary during the trip up to Topsham. He was ably assisted by Jo King, who helped to spot the birds and told us all about the Exe Estuary oystercatchers later in the trip.
When we set off the water level in the estuary was quite high due to recent heavy rain, despite it being close to low tide. We quickly turned into the mouth of the Exe, to explore the lower estuary while there was still plenty of mud and sand. We got great views of several shags perched on buoys, with their plumage showing a green sheen in the sunshine. A little further on, there was a grey seal on a pontoon, while on the other side of the boat we saw a common (or harbour) seal on a sandbank. That was the first time I had seen a common seal on the Exe Estuary.
On the way past Cockwood we saw a few greenshanks along the edge of the river, and several great crested grebes. We also spotted a small grebe in the distance – unfortunately it looked like a little grebe rather than the hoped-for black-necked grebe. As we moved up the channel, we encountered small groups of ducks, including wigeon, mallard and red-breasted merganser. The numbers of waders also increased, with scattered groups of avocets and redshanks along the water’s edge, and dunlin out on the mudflats. Passing Turf Lock, Derek pointed out the golden plover flock; they were in a field rather than their usual place on the estuary mud.
Nearing Topsham, we encountered larger flocks of black-tailed godwits, their black and white tails showing clearly as they took off. We had a look for the spotted redshank that is spending the winter around Topsham. We weren’t sure that we had seen it at the time (so I missed it off the bird list), but Jo later confirmed its identity in her photographs.
Reaching Topsham Quay, it was time to turn round and head back towards Exmouth. It was also time to eat the pasties that we had ordered, accompanied by soup – very welcome on a cold boat trip. On the way back, we had further sightings including a grey plover (which I had missed on the outward journey) and closer views of sanderlings and turnstones near Dawlish Warren. All too soon, we were back at Exmouth, having enjoyed a good morning’s birdwatching trip.
Richard Swinbank
33 species of bird seen: Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Red-breasted Merganser, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Sanderling, Dunlin, Snipe, Redshank, Greenshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Cormorant, Shag, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Carrion Crow, Raven, Pied Wagtail. Plus both Grey Seal and Common Seal.
