East Devon - 25th February to 3rd March 2006

by Frank & Pam Bryant

Our accommodation is 1 mile from Sidmouth in a self catering cottage. This is intended to give us total flexibility for our planned activities to explore this area in winter. We leave Gloucester in cold weather, the two previous days we had snow. 

Day 1   Bright sunny day, bitter cold wind

We arrive at the Otter River estuary car park, Budleigh Salterton at lunch time (about 100 miles from home). Several flocks of Wigeon and a few Mallard are seen flying over the marsh. Walking through the nature reserve we stop on a viewing platform, Lapwing, Mallard, Redshank, Black- headed and Herring Gulls are on the mud banks of the estuary. A Kingfisher sits on a bare branch on the opposite bank.

In the fields on our left are two flocks of Wigeon busy feeding from the turf. Several Teal are foraging the banks of a stream. A Mistle Thrush flies over the path into a nearby tree enabling us a good view. Several Robins were seen along the path.

After settling down into our very comfortable accommodation we walk to the sea front at Sidmouth. We are hoping for some wintering ducks near shore but all we find are more gulls being tossed about on the winter waves. Our luck is in though the sun is shining on the cliffs, The colours of the rock are simply stunning, this is a world heritage site known as the Jurassic coast,  

  Cliffs east of Sidmouth

Day 2   Cloudy, bitter cold wind

Sidmouth – Otterton, two Bullfinches and a Stonechat are seen en route. From the village of Otterton we take the footpath along the banks of the River Otter towards Colaton Raleigh. Two Grey Wagtail are seen feeding between the stones of an island bed. Great Tits, Blue Tits, and Chaffinch are seen and heard. Near the first bridge a Treecreeper and Nuthatch are spotted. Soon, around a bend in the river a Kingfisher comes flying very low and fast over the river, The wind gets the better of us so we decide to return. Just along the path we are surrounded by about ten Long-tailed Tits, they are very busy flitting amongst some low bushes. Also seen, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Goldcrest and many Moorhens. We wanted to see Dipper, a regular of this area but on this occasion we “dipped out”.

After a very welcome coffee and warm up at Otterton Mill we head for the Maer Rocks area at Exmouth, 13 Brent Geese and two Oystercatchers are found on the rocks together with several Black-headed Gulls. 15 Oystercatchers are later seen flying west. Seven Curlew fly east, later followed by another three. Two Shags and two Red-breasted Mergansers are very close to the shore. As we head west towards the docks a Seal is seen swimming towards the sea between this shore and that of Dawlish Warren opposite. 

Day 3  Cloudy, light wind, cold

Boat cruise (RSPB), River Exe from Exmouth to Topsham 12 noon-4pm.

Firstly we head towards the sea and explore the rocks off Exmouth and shingle banks of Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve. This is a major feeding ground for birds in the estuary, we see many at close range some feeding on the mussel beds.

Species seen: Black-headed gulls, Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, Oystercatchers, Shags and hundreds of Brent Geese.

The boat turns and we head up the estuary. Many of the Shags come close, their crests’ clearly visible, it is good to compare them to the Cormorants which are much larger. We are also able to compare Great Crested Grebes some in winter plumage others in splendid summer plumage. A Grey Seal is lounging in the shallows, looks just like a log from a distance.  Red-breasted Mergansers  are in good numbers, many in pairs, also some Goldeneye.

Goldeneye on River Exe

 We see large numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and Bar-tailed Godwits. Brent Geese are very common, many of them taking to flight as the boat passes. Other birds seen as we cruise along; Common Gull, Curlew, Redshank, Carrion Crow, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck, Knot, Grey Heron, Little Egret, and as we near Topsham several hundred Avocets.  Avocets flying over River Exe

On the way back to Exmouth we see a single Greenshank and two Sanderlings. Our bird total for the trip is 30 species. A “must do” trip for every bird watcher. 

Day 4   Bright, sunny, cold in exposed places

We walk from our accommodation into the town and then head towards Connaught Gardens to the west. The gardens are well worth a visit they are superb even in February, Besides awards for the layout and planting they have achieved a green award; nest boxes and bat boxes are evident. Blackbirds and Dunnocks flit between bushes, Rock Pipits flit from rocks to grassy banks.

Rock pipit

The lower path gives us good views of Oystercatchers and Turnstones as the tide recedes. Sidmouth Beach

As we enjoy lunch in town the weather changes, hail showers and then bright sunshine. Later we proceed to The Byes area, peaceful parkland with the River Sid running through. It is very quiet bird wise, and except for Moorhen and Mallard just two Redpolls feeding on the grass verge beside the river. Dark clouds are looming, the sleet/snow now falling makes up our minds that we need to head back to base. 

Day 5  Bright, sunny then squally hail, sleet and snow showers with sunny intervals

We drive east to the seaside town of Beer and then start to walk south to Beer Head. Frank spots a small, mainly white bird on the power lines, is it a Snow Bunting? The telescope confirms it is an albino Greenfinch.

A light dusting of snow was experienced on high ground, the view below is looking  back towards the town of Beer. Birds seen; Greenfinch, Robin, Collared Dove, Black-headed Gull, and at higher levels Meadow Pipits, Rock Pipits, Stonechat, Wren and Kestrel. As we climb, the snow clad hills of Dartmoor are visible to the west and the Isle of Portland to the east. Looking towards Beer

From the white chalk cliffs we see Fulmar, Jackdaw, Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gull with Shag and Cormorant flying low over the sea. The Jurassic coast leaflet states that the chalk cliffs are “only” 90 million years old. It says they would appear to be in the wrong place but leaving the sheltered bay, the underlying Triassic rocks (220 million years old) soon appear. The combination of impermeable clays and porous sandstone and chalk gives rise to landslides. The Hooken landslide at Beer Head is a good example. Chalk cliffs, Beer Head 

We walk to the beach hoping to find Purple Sandpiper feeding off the rocks. No such luck, just after this photo (below) a hail/snow storm makes us retreat to the car for a short while.

Beer Beach 

We drive to the east bank of the River Axe just beyond Seaton, a few parking places enable good views of birds feeding on the mud flats. Birds seen; gulls, Mallard, Shelduck, Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing, Little Egret, Bar-tailed Godwit and Teal. A leaflet at our accommodation suggests a nearby place to go for Dipper, the River Axe near Whitford, a few miles north of Seaton. River Axe at Whitford 

However we don’t find any but see two Buzzards circling overhead. Although we didn’t see large numbers of birds the varying habitats and contours of landscape made this a very enjoyable day. Somewhere we had not explored before. 

Day 6  Light snow overnight, clear, sunny and bright until late am then cloudy but dry

We walk from Otterton to Colaton Raleigh and back. One of the first birds we see is a Dipper washing in the fast flowing river. As we head along the snowy path we see Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tits, Blackbirds, Little Egret, three Song Thrushes, Grey Wagtail, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard), three Siskins (2m,1f), a further two Dippers flying downstream quickly followed by one flying upstream.

The path from Otterton to Colaton Raleigh 

After a coffee and eats stop we go Maer rocks to the east of Weymouth town. Oystercatcher, Cormorant and Herring Gulls are feeding on the rocks as we park the car. We decide to explore the beach/rock area towards Devon Cliffs holiday park to look for Purple Sandpiper. Here we also find Brent Geese and Kestrel but not the sandpipers. As we were about to walk back two Peregrines appeared, flew overhead and circled above us.

Peregrine flying over Exmouth Beach 

Then I heard a Raven, looked up and three were flying over, their diamond tails distinctive. Cliffs and rocks, Exmouth

We now decided to change habitat and go to RSPB reserve at Bowling Green Marsh. Looking over the wooden gates at the start of the reserve we counted 40 Snipe in a very small area of the field. From the public hide we saw close views of Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Mallard, Coot, Shelduck, with Mute Swan, Greylag and Canada Geese further away. In the trees by the hide four Linnets, two Robins, Blackbird, Blue Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen. Further along hundreds of Wigeon were busy grazing with a few Lapwings. The end of the road here gives views out over the estuary and we see Avocets, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Shelduck and Curlew besides the usual gulls. The viewing platform over the River Clyst gives us close views of Redshank, Grey Plover and Avocets. As we walk back to the car about ten Linnets fly over. Time to head back to the cottage, we have spent seven hours bird watching today and thoroughly enjoyed this natural landscape haven. 

Day 7  Clear sunny, some cloud late morning

This afternoon we sadly have to head back to Gloucester. As the day is so bright and clear we walk to the coast, visit Connaught Gardens again and return via The Byes area.

Birds seen on this walk, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Robin, Bullfinch, Redpoll, Siskin, Grey Wagtail, Marsh Tit, Woodpigeon, besides the usual gulls. 

Summary

This is a great area to visit in winter with several varying habitats giving a diverse range of wildlife possibilities. There are few people, few cars and much of the car parking is free, a good bonus these days.

The journey home took two hours ten minutes and we saw 16 Buzzards, three Kestrels, a Sparrowhawk and a Grey Heron.