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Bird Watching in Devon – Activity Holidays - Visit South Devon

Birdwatching in South Devon

A coastline riven with large estuaries and endowed with dunes, mudflats and wetlands will inevitably attract large numbers of migratory and other species of birds. South Devon affords first rate resources for ornithologists at any level of competence. The Exe Estuary, and principally Dawlish Warren at the estuary mouth, has an international reputation and is under the protection of several environmental directives including qualification as a RAMSAR site and an SSSI. Here you can spot, among others, brent geese, divers, eider, grebes, skuas and dunlin. A particular spectacle around September or mid March time is the huge muster of thousands of wading birds prior to their departure to more northerly climes. Even non birdwatchers cannot fail to be impressed.

Dawlish Warren may be the jewel in the crown, but the rest of South Devon is hardly less entertaining for the birdwatcher. All the estuaries and the coast will reward even the casual watcher.

The Kingsbridge estuary offers good opportunities to view waders, with its many creeks and inlets providing feeding grounds for the little egret, curlew and whimbrel, with passing ospreys in autumn. A number of small but significant sites managed by Devon Birdwatching & Preservation Society are worth a visit, including the reedbeds at South Milton Ley, Beesands Ley and West Charleton Marsh.

On the moorland fringes around Holne or Bovey Tracey, you can spot wood warblers, pied flycatchers, redstarts, tree pipits, dippers, ravens and buzzards. In fact no matter where you are in South Devon, you can enjoy a rich diversity of birdlife.

At many places there are hides available to the public, particularly along the estuaries, and other facilities are available to members of the RSPB or local birdwatching clubs. For more information visit RSBP, check the local nature reserves, or call into a local TIC.