Did you know that the River Exe estuary is a RAMSAR site? This means that it is a wetland area of international importance and to visit the river in winter will immediately make you understand why, as the estuary is a major refuge for tens of thousands of birds. Make no mistake – this is a world-class bird location, and one which is right on our very own doorstep.
The most important winter inhabitants are the Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits and they can number about 
1200, whilst you also expect to see hundreds of Avocets, Brent Geese and all manner of wildfowl, waders and seabirds and smaller numbers of Curlews and Red-breasted 
Mergansers with their funky head plumage. We were also incredibly lucky to see a Grey Seal on a sandbank in the middle of the river.
The RSPB runs regular winter cruises out of Topsham, but you will get far better value by joining a guided Stuart Line Bird Watching Cruise out of Exmouth, which is cheaper and you get to spend twice as long on the river. You will enjoy an expert commentary and snacks are available as well, but you do need to book in advance.
If there is time after you return to the dock, get yourself off to Bowling Green Marsh although you may wish to leave this for another day to get the maximum benefit from your time there. Whilst many keen birders do not seem to mind seeing birds as tiny dots on the horizon, for me the greatest thrill is to get close up and personal and at Bowling Green Marsh you will be amazed at just how close you can get to some of the birds.
On the home front, we have waited three years to see a Nuthatch on our feeders, where we have also enjoyed incredibly close views of Great Spotted Woodpeckers just outside our dining room windows. In the past they have always kept their distance – I suspect that this individual is one of 
those which hatched out in the garden earlier this year.
Andrew and Cherry have reported seeing a Barn Owl at Mousehole, when it took refuge in one of their trees after being harried by a pair of crows and Biddy in Colestocks saw off a Sparrowhawk, which turned up at her bird feeders
Paul Lister 01404 841696
