Bird Watching

The Heart of Devon's landscape of estuary marshland, forest, fields and commons make it a haven for birdlife, and with several nature reserves and viewing hides, there are plenty of opportunities to get close to nature.

The Exe Estuary is an internationally important site for winter migrant birds, including the Avocet, Brent Geese and Lapwings. The RSPB and Devon Wildlife Trust manage nature reserves on the estuary, with public trails, viewing platforms and hides allowing visitors to get close to the birds without disturbing them.

One side of the estuary is Exminster Marshes and the other side is Bowling Green Marsh. In spring, you can see lapwings and redshanks and listen for rare Cetti's warblers. In winter, during floods or around high tide, there are thousands of waterbirds including black-tailed godwits and wigeons.

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At the mouth of the estuary, Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve is also an area of international importance for wildlife. It provides the main roosting site for huge numbers of wading birds and wildfowl that spend the autumn and winter on the Estuary.

To discover more about birdlife on the River Exe Estuary, join a winter guided bird watching cruise with Stuart Line Cruises at Exmouth. Visit the town of Dawlish to see its famous black swans sailing serenely along The Brook! 

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Seaton Marshes Local Nature Reserve is a grazing marsh, with scrapes, ditches and ponds that attract considerable wildlife interest, from wildfowl and wading birds in the winter to dragonflies and butterflies in the summer. Easily accessible paths run through the reserve, and there is a viewing hide with 360-degree views of the nature reserve and Axe Estuary.

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Haldon Forest Park is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and is home to many species of butterflies, birds of prey, and a nationally important breeding population of nightjars. Visit the Grand Western Canal, Tiverton to catch a glimpse of Kingfishers, Mute Swans, the uncommon Water Rail and Little Grebe.

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Devon County Council have produced a digital guide to wildlife in Devon - click on the image to the left to view a copy of the guide, which includes a guide to the local nature reserves in the county and how to get to them.

Useful Links:

www.rspb.org.uk/devon
www.exeter-rspb.org.uk
www.devonwildlifetrust.org