Spoonbills, Goosanders, Little Egret,s Godwits, Sandpiper and Greenshank (plus Parasitic Wasp) at the Otter Estuary nature reserve and along the river Otter - 17th March 2026

I visited the Otter Estuary nature reserve for the second time on Tuesday during my week in Devon

The two Spoonbills were feeding in front of a Little Egret

A Dunnock perched in a bare shrub

Group of Black-tailed Godwits feeding near the bridge in the centre of the nature reserve

I found a creepy Parasitic Wasp creeping around in one of the bird hides

I went for a walk along the footpath at the edge of the river Otter and came across a pair of Goosanders

a second female Goosander was in the water a little further upstream

Back in the nature reserve, a Black-tailed Godwit was feeding in the mud

Two Little Egrets were stepping daintily around in a shallow pool

A Common Sandpiper was standing in shallow water at the edge of the mud

A Greenshank was wading through the water while looking for food

Another Little Egret was walking around in shallow water near the coastal end of the reserve

 

Black Swans, ducks and geese in Dawlish - 16th March 2026

I was staying in Sandy Bay and walked down the hill to the bus stop for Exmouth.  I was a little early so wandered around the village for a short while.  This thatched cottage (actually a cafe) was for sale.

I went on the train to Dawlish, where I found some Chinese Water geese on the brook

and some hybrid geese - maybe Snow/Greylag mix or similar????

Dawlish is famous for its captive Black Swans, so I was not surprised to see the wonderful exterior of the public toilets!!!!

One of the Black Swans was asleep on a nest

I came across four Black Swans on the footpath at the edge of the brook

Another Black Swan was guarding a second nest in Dawlish

Three Muscovy ducks were resting on a pebbly island in the middle of the brook - I expect these were captive too at one time (or escapees).  I gather most of the captive wildfowl in Dawlish recently contracted bird flu and their wildfowl collection was closed down.

Hybrid Mallard on the brook

Two Black Swans near the weir - one showing off its pinioned wing

 

Spoonbills, Wigeon, Godwits and Black Swans at Bowling Green Marsh nature reserve, Topsham - 15th March 2026

I was staying in East Devon for a week and, on Sunday, I took the train from Exmouth to Topsham.  Then I walked to RSPB Bowling Green Marsh and sat in the bird hide for some time.

Row of Black-tailed Godwits in both summer and winter plumage

Wigeon feeding on the grass

Spoonbill and Shelduck on a narrow island in the lagoon

In fact, there were two Spoonbills on the little island

Spoonbills and a long row of Black-tailed Godwits

Little Egrets flying above some Black-tailed Godwits

A pair of Black Swans were on grass at the other side of the lagoon

Pintail on the lagoon

The two Spoonbills were feeding when the Black-tailed Godwits decided to move

Spoonbills preening behind two Godwits

The pair of Black Swans moved into the water and sailed past the bird hide

talking to one another as they sailed along the water

I came across a male Blackbird on the lane leading from Bowling Green Marsh

Curlew and Redshank feeding on the mud in front of the Goat Walk in Topsham

 I had a great time and planned to visit again later in the week.

Birding visit to Otter Estuary nature reserve, Budleigh Salterton, on 14th March 2026

I was staying in a mobile home at Devon Cliffs Holiday Park near Exmouth for a week and, on my first full day in Devon, went on the bus to Budleigh Salterton in order to visit the Otter Estuary nature reserve

View of some of the houses on the cliff in Budleigh Salterton, with the holiday park on the distant cliffs

The flatter part of Devon Cliffs Holiday Park - all the rest of it was uphill!

View from the coast side of the nature reserve at low tide

I was greeted by a friendly Robin near the entrance to the reserve

Distant tree and clouds past a reed bed

Pair of Shelduck searching for food in the mud

Oystercatcher patrolling the very shallow water

Tall thin tree trunk is a point of interest in the centre of the reserve

Male and female Eurasian Teal feeding in the shallow water

Two Spoonbills in the centre of the estuary

I managed to get slightly closer to the Spoonbills and this one began walking away from me

The two Spoonbills feeding in one of the channels in the estuary

I saw them preening later on in the afternoon

Two Little Egrets on the other side of shallow water - viewed from one of the bird hides

Closer look at one of the Little Egrets

Redshank resting at the edge of the mud

Path at one side of the nature reserve

Row of trees on a ridge on the other side of the river Otter and overlooking the sea

Little Egret strutting its stuff when I was leaving the Otter Estuary nature reserve

View of Budleigh Salterton as I walked along the sea front after a great walk round the nature reserve