It’s that time of year again where flocks of tourists are joined by flocks of birds in Exmouth!
From the 15 September, the Exmouth Wildlife Refuge (EWR) is active, marked with signage and yellow “WR” buoys. The team at South East Devon Wildlife is asking everyone to avoid both the Exmouth and Dawlish (active year-round) refuges, from both land and water, to give birds the space they need to thrive.
Seagrass is the preferred and most nutritious food source for several of our winter migrants. After growing throughout the summer, the EWR seagrass beds become denser, providing a rich and tasty feeding ground for thousands of birds throughout the season; they are often found squabbling over the best patches!
During high tide, the water adjacent to the EWR is used by birds “in waiting.” Rafts of Wigeon, Brent Geese, and Shelduck gather until the tidal state is perfect, when the tasty seagrass tips become reachable. At low tide, species such as Oystercatcher, Godwit, and Curlew probe the mud and sand for worms and shellfish.
These flocks use both the EWR and the surrounding mudbanks. Activities in the refuges like dog walking on the beach, fishing from the shore, and water sports can disturb these birds, affecting their health and survival.
By the end of December, the seagrass looks sparser. Around this time, many birds start moving onto a less desirable food source, terrestrial grass. You’ll find flocks on Starcross golf course and the flood plains around Exminster, feeding here for the remaining winter months before their return migrations.
Although the official EWR season ends on 31st December, we see more birds staying longer. Significant numbers of Godwit, Redshank, and Brent Geese still use this area well into February and March. We do not know why this is happening – in fact we’d love to know if anyone is interested in researching it! Could it be the milder winters, stormier weather or perhaps an increase in food sources?
We are thrilled with the success of the wildlife refuges. According to Footprint Ecology’s 2021 study, birds are increasingly using these areas, recognising them as safe spaces. While these findings are encouraging, and we thank the diverse range of visitors to the estuary for their help, we must also continue our efforts to ensure these areas remain effective sanctuaries for wildlife.
If you’re interested in the work of South East Devon Wildlife, you can follow them on @sedwildlife and sign up for their quarterly newsletter.
Want to find alternative sites for dog walking? Check out Devon Loves Dogs. Find out more about their free membership scheme, guided walks, and advice.