What to see in December!

Winter by now has truly arrived and the bird numbers will be reaching their peak. The colder it gets further north and east, the greater will be the number of birds arriving. Avocets should exceed 500 while Curlew may be in excess of 1000, Black-tailed Godwits 1000, Wigeon 4000, Teal 2000, Brent Geese 1500. On top of these there are thousands of others, which include different species of waders, ducks, grebes, cormorants and gulls. This year the weather has been so wet and this can cause problems. Not only does it deter people from going out and enjoying the estuary it can also cause problems for the birds. Floodwater rushing down the river at low tide scours away at the surface mud and all it contains. The tiny snails (Hydrobia) and shrimps (Corophium) are washed away downstream limiting the food available to birds such as the Avocets.

Not easy to find but look out for Purple Sandpipers on the mussel beds of the lower estuary at Shelly Beach. These delightful little waders come here from Iceland to feed on our rocky shores and ever more regularly they visit the estuary. An easier place to find Purple Sandpipers is on the rocky shore at Jacobs Ladder, Sidmouth. Sanderling are tiny sparrow sized waders that can be found at the tide-line on the beaches of Exmouth and Dawlish Warren. These diminutive but delightful, little waders are almost white with a few dark markings and can easily be seen running up and down the beach behind the waves where they catch small creatures disturbed by the breakers. They are incredible little birds and after spending the winter with us, the survivors will fly all the way to Greenland to breed. Such a journey seems unimaginable for such a tiny creature. They fly for a thousand miles from the shores of Scotland across one of the most violent sees in the world to Iceland. Even then the journey is far from over with another gruelling thousand miles to Greenland. Far from all of them make it.

The evening arrival of winter gulls to the estuary is a truly spectacular sight and one to remember. During the daytime thousands of Black-headed, Common and Herring Gulls feed out in the Devon countryside. They follow the plough and recycle organic rubbish that we, so carelessly, throw into landfill. At night the danger from Foxes and other predators is too great inland so they come to the estuary for overnight security. Goat Walk at Topsham is a great place to watch them as they arrive in their thousands, each evening (just after sunset) from November to March. They are just gulls you may say but take a moment to watch. Pick a good clear, crisp evening and you cannot fail to be impressed. From Goat Walk with the setting sun, bright over the Haldon Hills these birds which are just gulls, create a magical and often surreal end to the day, white against blue cruising by on silent wings, thousands of them.

Keep your eyes open for hunting Peregrine Falcons. They come into the estuary to exploit this winter bonanza of birds. To watch them hunting is a truly exciting, they can fly at more than 200kph, the fastest animal that has ever lived. Almost every day they are on the river but you just have to be in the right place at the right time to see them. Whenever you see large flocks of waders dashing and wheeling in the air it is often a sign that Peregrines are on the hunt. The waders defend themselves by the theory that there is safety in numbers but also their constant wheeling and the colour changes that this creates, makes it very difficult for the hunter to pick out an individual. Keep your eyes open and you could easily witness the fastest aerial chase in nature.

There is so much to see out there and this is just the briefest of outlines. The estuary and Jurassic Coast is so very special, it is yours to enjoy, so go, enjoy it!

THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN DECEMBER

* Visit the hides at Topsham and Dawlish Warren, one hour before high tide.

* Walk from Lympstone to Exmouth and return.

* Take a walk around Exminster Marshes, wellies are a must.

* Watch for Eiders and Mergansers just offshore at Orcombe Point.

Rod Lawrence