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Hello again from the South East Devon Habitat Regulations Partnership (or SEDHRP for short)

To misquote a popular series: Autumn is coming! Despite the unseasonably warm weather recently, we are welcoming back our winter birds to the Exe Estuary. We're also saying a fond goodbye to our summer visitors such as the Nightjars on the Pebblebed Heaths. They are currently winging their way back on an epic mission to sub-Saharan Africa for the winter.

From Sun to Sea

The changing seasons also mark a shift in the focus of our work. This is due to changes in the activity of both the birds and people in South East Devon.

During winter, thousands of birds return to winter on the Exe Estuary. Being creatures of habit they return each year to rest and refuel after their busy breeding seasons and three thousand-mile migrations. This can make them vulnerable to disturbance in the limited roost and feeding spots around the estuary. Our Exmouth Duckpond and Dawlish Warren Wildlife Refuges have been created in two critical feeding and roosting spots to help reserve a special place for these loyal birds to roost and feed. So, we focus more of our efforts at these sites to help people become aware of this unsung spectacle and encourage responsible bird-friendly behaviours.

So if you’re out and about around the estuary – look ahead! There’s almost certainly an amazing wildlife experience awaiting you. Failing that, come and say hello if you see us out patrolling on foot or by boat or doing a pop up at Exmouth Duckpond! We’d love to help you experience some of the wildlife riches the estuary has offer.

See you on the estuary! Will

The Exe Estuary

The Exe Estuary is an internationally important habitat made up of mudflats, eelgrass beds, saltmarsh, reedbeds and mussel beds that attract over 20,000 birds every winter! They come here to rest and feed on the vast quantities of animals and sea grasses.

The natural expansion of the estuary habitat has been restricted due to the trainline and other coastal developments. This means that the wildlife has a smaller area to live and feed in. The estuary is also a really great place for humans as well, enriching our lives with water sports and dog walking on the estuary. Because of all these different pressures, three years ago we created two wildlife refuges on the estuary. One at Dawlish Warren which is a really important high tide roost and is in place all year round. The second is an area in Exmouth known as the Duck Pond which covers an eel grass bed - one of the main sources of food for birds on the estuary. This one is in place from 15^th September to 31^st December. We ask people not to go into these areas to allow wildlife to feed and rest undisturbed by humans, dogs and watercraft.

Will and I (Amelia) spend the majority of the autumn and winter down on the estuary talking to visitors and passers-by. We love to point out the wildlife and help people to understand how important and special the Exe Estuary really is. It is one of the most protected areas, locally, nationally and internationally and is a place worth looking after for years to come.

Oystercatcher are present on the Exe Estuary all year round. However during autumn many more arrive from their breeding grounds both near and far. Our Wildlife Refuges at Dawlish Warren and Exmouth Duckpond are key spots to find them.

Painted Lady butterfly migrate to the UK from Europe (and back again!). Look for Ivy or Buddleia flowers to spot them and many other butterflies refuelling on this late nectar source.

Sanderling are one of the first wading birds to return to the Exe Estuary from the Arctic. They form small flock that run along the shoreline. Sandy places like Dawlish Warren are one of their favourite feeding and roosting spots.

Migrant Hawker Dragonfly migrate to Devon from Europe in late summer. They can be spotted in sheltered areas well way from water – back gardens are a great spot to look!

Pale-bellied Brent Goose visit the Exe Estuary during their migration from Arctic Canada. You can tell them from our wintering Dark-bellied Brent Geese by their paler bellies and smaller size. 

Silver Y moths (look closely for the clue in the name!) are often found in open places like the Pebblebed Heaths in autumn as they rest between long migration flights.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese

One of the most iconic birds that visit the Exe is the Brent goose. They are a small dark goose, similar in size to a mallard. They have a black head, neck, upper breast, bill and legs with white patches either side of their neck giving the appearance of a collar. Their underparts are greyish-brown and when they are heads down feeding, you can see their white backsides! They look like they are smartly dressed in their Sunday best.

They leave their summer breeding grounds in the  arctic by mid-September and arrive on our shores in early October after stopping off to refuel along the Baltic coast. That's a migration of over 3,000 miles!! When they arrive in Exmouth in their family groups they can be seen squabbling with other families over the best eel grass spots. When to see a Brent goose The best time to see a Brent goose is a couple of hours either side of high tide. They flock into the duck pond in Exmouth and bob about on the water waiting for their food, eel grass, to come into reach. Once the tide has receded enough for their necks to reach their food they will begin to feast. They hang out feeding in this area until the eel grass is no longer suspended in water. They don’t like the grass once it has stuck to the mud! How we can help them We can help Brent geese to survive the winter by giving them space and keeping out of the wildlife refuges. After their exhausting migration they need to spend the whole of the winter resting and feeding. If they are disturbed by humans and dogs, on land or the water, they will stop feeding and in worst cases, fly away and not return to the area. If this happens regularly enough it will mean that they are not able to take on the energy they need to survive the winter or make the return journey to Siberia to breed in the spring. One of their main predators in Siberia is the artic fox - which looks a lot like a dog to these birds. By keeping dogs on a lead and keeping out of the wildlife refuges, you will be doing your bit to help wildlife thrive, both locally and globally.

Fun facts. ⇒They can fly around 135,000 miles during their lifetime. ⇒They have a highly developed salt gland that allows them to drink salt water. ⇒The average lifespan is 19 years. One individual was recorded at 27 years! ⇒The word ‘brent’ comes from the Norse word ‘brand’, meaning burnt. The geese were given this name because they look like charcoal.  ⇒They come back to the same area every year. The birds that we are seeing on the Exe could have been coming here for more than 19 years!

For Fun!

Discover what insects and bugs go bump in the night by watching our video guide of how to make a Pit Fall Trap!