This time we’ve invited guest writer Nick Tomlin to provide an account of the day trip. Nicks piece can be read here

Another good day out but not so many people on the boat this time. Still that meant everyone had plenty of room on the upper deck, the weather was fine and the birds were obliging as always.  We had a new skipper, Sid who was excellent getting us almost to Pentille on the Tamar and as far as Sconner on the Lynher, probably the furthest up this river that we’ve ever reached. Avocets had increased significantly since our trip a […]

First trip of the 2014/15 season and another fine afternoon with plenty to see. Sailing on a slightly higher tide than usual we were able to get further up both the Tamar and Lynher. Only a  few Avocets were seen, c40 on the mudbank at Holes Hole but given the mild weather perhaps that s not surprising. I would expect the numbers to increase in the next few weeks and especially after Christmas. Highlight was a first winter Glaucous Gull […]

Scoters are sea ducks, known to most of us as winter visitors. Usually seen far off shore, we have occasionally seen them on our boat trips. Poor conditions can make it challenging to identify them and tell scoter species apart. The BTOs latest Bird ID video on scoters has some hints and tips to help.

Drakes Island is again under threat from the hotel development. In spite of serious concerns by Natural England, English Heritage, RSPB, Cornwall and Devon Wildlife Trusts and Cornwall Bird Watching and Preservation Society, the developers are still pressing for planning permission from Plymouth City Council. Drakes Island is the only nesting site of Little Egret in the Tamar Valley. It also supports a winter and high tide roost of almost all the egrets that use the Tamar Valley ie 70-80 […]

The forecast this weekend is not bad considering what it has been like recently. Sunday is likely to be better than Saturday. The trips will go ahead unless the skipper believes there is a risk or conditions are too bad to view the birds. Birdwatchers are a hardy bunch!! A decision will be taken on Friday evening or early Saturday morning if the weather is dire and we will contact all passengers only if the trip has been cancelled. The […]

Tony has sent me some more pictures from the last birdwatching cruise.

   The first trip of 2014 did not disappoint. Firstly we had a 3 hour window when the sun shone, the wind was virtually nil at times with the river flat calm like a millpond. Ok it was a bit cold but the birds made up for it. Highlights were over 300 Avocet, those on the Lynher were very close and brilliantly lit by the low sun and 2 Kingfisher, both of which sat in the open for all to see […]

  Well it had to happen one day – the weather was somewhat grey and damp to say the least. Still 50 or so people braved the elements and while waiting at Saltash several of the party watched a Peregrine on the bridge. We began our usual  route up the River Tamar. As we were on neap tides the birds were rather distant in the lower reaches of the river and the large mussel banks normally exposed at low tide remained […]

Tony has sent me a couple of images from the last cruise and two taken yesterday on Millbrook Lake. The lake is gradually filling up from the inflow and will probably be almost full by Monday depending upon how much rain we have over the weekend