Observations on the feeding mechanisms of Eurasian Spoonbill. Bruce Taggart   (reproduced from CBWPS ‘Palores’ Spring 2013) The Eurasian Spoonbill is a rare passage migrant and winter visitor to Cornwall, but the estuaries of the River Tamar complex including the River Lynher are regular haunts, with up to seven individuals wintering in recent years. Birds usually arrive in November and remain until February / March. Sightings of ringed birds indicate that most, if not all originate from the breeding population in […]

Tony Jones has sent me some images he took on the last Bird Cruise. Usual excellent standard. Many thanks Tony.

A rather chilly and overcast day dawned but it was dry and calm, so ideal for a day out on a boat.  Most of the group boarded at Saltash, including a 70 strong party from the Tavistock branch of the Devon Wildlife Trust. The tide was very low and as we carefully manoevered upstream the first birds were logged – Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Curlew and Oystercatcher all in reasonably close view, but more distant were Wigeon, Teal and […]

The dates and Saltash departure times for this winters cruises are 17th November 2013 11.00am 15th December 2013 10.30am 29th January 2014 10.00am 15th February 2014 12.00 mid-day For details and how to book click on the Birdwatching Cruise page in the banner above.

After a quiet summer we’re now finalising the winter 2013/14 birdwatching cruises. The first will be on Sunday 17th November, leaving Saltash at 11am. Phone 01752 829163 to reserve your places. There are more trips planned for December, January and February. Details to follow shortly.

   A rather chilly day on the river this one! Wind had been blowing from the east for a week or so but at least it wasn’t raining. As we sailed upriver towards the pickup at Saltash, the 3 Spoonbills were again feeding off Bull Point. Therefore we collected our passengers and went back to have a look…..but they’d flown off!  Not a good start. However, we headed back upstream following our usual route and picking up the normal species […]

You know how on some days everything goes right …..well the 9th Feb trip ticked all the    boxes. Firstly we had a dry day, not that frequent recently and although it wasn’t sunny we had light winds, good visibility and it wasn’t that cold either. I joined the boat at Cremyll and as we sailed upstream a Razorbill got us off to a good start – a new species for our cruise list. Then I noticed 2 Spoonbills feeding […]

Another good turn out. Over 50 people on board and we took our normal route up the River Tamar. Colin, our skipper took a leisurely course that enabled us to have some good views of the Avocets and usual species. The Black tailed Godwit were feeding opposite Saltash, much further downstream than usual. It is interesting how the whole estuary is used at different times and what exactly dictates where the birds feed. The 3 Spoonbills that had been reported […]

Another lucky window between the rain! The night before had seen floods across Cornwall and Devon so we were pleased that almost everyone got to Saltash for the 9.30am start. The 80 strong contingent from the Devon Wildlife Trust had come from as far afield as Oakhampton and Exeter. With all the rain from the previous two days the river was in full flow. Even at low tide much of the mud was covered and the debris being washed downstream […]

Today I led a group of three clients on a birding trip in the lower Tamar valley. Meeting them from the Cremyll Ferry we immediately started with an adult Mediterranean Gull, firstly sitting on the river and then in flight. Our first stop was Millbrook Lake. As it was high tide the waders, all Redshank, were roosting on the island together with several Little Egret and 4 Cormorant. Plenty of Black-headed and Herring Gulls and a single Little Grebe. We […]