Third and final visit to the Otter Estuary nature reserve on my last day in Devon - 19th March 2026

There was a group of Redshank feeding at the edge of the water in the Otter Estuary nature reserve

First time I had been to the nature reserve when part of it was still covered with water

Little Egret searching for food amongst the reeds

Four Oystercatchers on the mud as the tide went out

Shelduck hiding in the reeds behind a Grey Heron

Pied Wagtail standing on a pebbly island in the river Otter

Shelduck feeding in the mud at low tide

Rookery at the edge of the river

Peacock butterfly sunning itself on the path at the edge of the river Otter

There was a large hole in the path along the edge of the river Otter

Two male Eurasian Teal feeding on the river Otter

One final photograph of a lovely Little Egret in the Otter Estuary nature reserve

Such a great place - I only hope that I will be able to visit it again some time in the future

 

Another visit to RSPB Bowling Green Marsh followed by a walk past the grounds of Powderham Castle on the other side of the estuary - 18th March 2026

On Wednesday, 18th March, I went by train to Topsham and visited Bowling Green Marsh for a second time during my week long visit to East Devon

One Spoonbill was standing at the end of the grassy land in the middle of the lagoon

It preened its feathers

and then flew away!

There were lots of Wigeon on the lagoon

a Black swan sailed majestically past all the Wigeon and other ducks

Pair of Eurasian Teal in front of the bird hide

and a pair of Wigeon in the same place

As I walked away from Bowling Green Marsh, I spotted a Rove beetle on the muddy lane

I then went on the train to Starcross on the other side of the Exe estuary and walked down the lane past Powderham Castle

There was a large group of mainly female Fallow deer sitting on the grass inside the grounds of Powderham Castle.  They were easily viewed from the lane through the wire fence.

I think that they were disturbed by the sound of my clicking camera as they suddenly stood up

When I walked further down the lane, I could see the castle in the distance

Lovely large tree on the estate

A few stags were gathered together in the distance

More interesting trees

Little Egret standing near a pool in the Powderham grounds

Further on, I crossed over the railway bridge and saw two Oystercatchers on the Exe estuary at low tide

A train from Exmouth trundled along the railway line on the other side of the estuary

Sleepy Curlew standing on the river bed

Lympstone Village on the other side of the estuary

On my way back to Starcross, I took a photo of Powderham church

and was startled by a train traveling along the railway line between the estuary and the lane!

 

Spoonbills, Goosanders, Little Egrets, 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