Exe estuary wildlife

The estuary is a feeding and breeding ground for thousands of birds, supporting internationally important populations such as Redshank, with Exminster one of only two places in Devon where they breed. Once a notable bird for any birdwatcher, the Little Egret is now a regular sight and also breeds on the estuary.

Ducks to look out for include shelduck, red-breasted merganser, teal, wigeon, mallard, pintail and goldeneye. Many different waders call the estuary home in winter including dunlin, oystercatcher, avocet, lapwing, black-tailed godwit, curlew, grey plover and redshank. Sleeps 2. Sleeps 4. Sleeps 6. See all cottages. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Holiday cottages For the perfect bird watching break. Click here. A Bird Friendly Garden Create a haven for wild birds.

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The results showed that the wildlife refuges significantly reduce disturbance to protected bird species on the Exe Estuary. In addition, the results indicate that the wildlife refuges are in the right places and cover the most critical times of year for protected birds. Evidence showed that the maximum numbers of wildfowl ducks and geese recorded at the Exmouth refuge showed an annual increase over the three years of the study. It means that the Estuary is better able to provide undisturbed resting and feeding sites for these birds into the future.

Unsurprisingly, the results were affected by the Covid pandemic — both from numbers of people having reduced access during lockdowns and conversely by staycations increasing the number of people on the Estuary when lockdown ended. The latest monitoring reports show great results for the wildlife on the Exe Estuary, and that the wildlife refuge spaces are having an impact. It has been great to see so many people out on the water enjoying and sharing the area with the birds. Through showing consideration for others — including the wildlife — we can continue to keep the Exe Estuary, Dawlish Warren and the Pebblebed Heaths the special places they are for generations to come.

The surveys were carried out by independent ecologists, Footprint Ecology, who started monitoring the Exe Estuary before the wildlife refuges were in place to compare the situation before and after their introduction. Read the full report. You can do your bit to keep the Exe Estuary special for years to come by keeping out of the wildlife refuges and following the codes of conduct for the area.

The Exe Estuary is a patchwork of habitats. The ebbing tide changes the structure of the sands and reshapes the Exe so that the estuary we see today is a result of natural processes over huge geological time frames. The natural expansion of the estuary has been restricted by human development with the train lines on either side, coastal defences and sea walls. Most of the Exe Estuary is an inter-tidal mudflat or sandflat which means that at high tide the mud is covered by water, but at low tide it is exposed.

The sediment that forms the mudflats is carried from the wider catchment by the River Exe, and is deposited in the estuary. The mud in the upper estuary is fine silt, but towards the mouth of the estuary the sediment becomes more coarse and sandy. This change in sediment is important as towards the mouth of the estuary the sediment becomes coarser and stones and shells are increasingly present. This means that eel grass, mussels and algae are able to attach to the sediment and we start to see whole areas dominated by these species.