Estuarine birds

1. About

Devon’s estuaries and surrounding land support nationally and internationally important communities of wading birds and wildfowl (ducks and geese) due to our mild climate and position on the ‘East Atlantic flyway’. The East Atlantic flyway is one of the world’s major bird migration routes stretching from the breeding grounds in the Arctic and sub-Arctic (Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, Siberia and Canada) through western Europe and down to wintering grounds in West Africa.

The species in this group feed on intertidalThe area of the shore that is covered by water at high tide and exposed to air at low tide. More habitats (mud flats, saltmarshes and seagrass beds) and then at high-tide retreat to the higher coastal grazing marshes and other high tide roosts along estuaries. See Devon Special SpeciesDevon Species of Conservation Concern which have been 'shortlised' as needing particular action or attention (rather than being iconic species). More below.

Slavonian grebe, eider, long-tailed duck, velvet scoter and curlew sandpiper occasionally visit Devon in very small numbers. These are all highly threatened but, as Devon can’t make a significant contribution to their conservation, they aren’t included here.

Species which are occurring more regularly in Devon’s coastal wetlands include great white egret, cattle egret, spoonbill and glossy ibis. Reasons for their range expansion include: climate change, reduced persecution, habitat creation, and habitat enhancement. They may start to breed in Devon and will benefit from all coastal habitat actions in the LNRS.

Key pressures and opportunities

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Coastal squeeze and the need to restore coastal habitats

Intertidal mudflats, seagrass beds and saltmarshes provide critical feeding habitat for wintering birds but many are threatened by rising sea levels. This is a major issue where they have no ability to move landwards due to hard coastal defences, as on the Exe estuary. Shoreline Management Plans have identified opportunities to create new intertidal habitats through the managed realignment of floodbanks,

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Disturbance

Recreational and commercial activities can disturb coastal waterbird populations and cumulatively these can have severe impacts. The growing human populations living in and using coastal habitats will exacerbate these risks. There are initiatives already operating to manage disturbance from recreational activities on wintering waterbird populations on the Exe Estuary and the Tamar Estuaries complex.

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Pollution

Pollution arising from marine, riverine or terrestrial discharges or emissions can impact on the invertebrateAn animal that doesn't have a backbone, such as insects, spiders, worms, crabs and slugs. More populations of inter-tidal habitats.

See the Coast page for more details.

2. What we need to do and where

Devon Special Species

These include:

Wintering birds: Brent goose, Eurasian curlew, avocet, pintail, dunlin, bar-tailed godwit, black-tailed godwit, wigeon, red breasted merganser, grey plover, shelduck, redshank, lapwing, knot, oystercatcher, snipe. A few of these species will also breed on or around our estuaries such as oystercatcher, shelduck and lapwing.

Breeding only: Little ringed plover.

Migratory: Osprey and little ringed plover.

Headline information on the birds

Wintering

Bar-tailed godwit – occur mainly on the Exe
Black-tailed godwit
Eurasian curlew –
Brent goose
Pintail
Grey plover –
Shelduck –
Redshank –
Avocet – key wintering populations are in the Exe and Tamar but they are spreading into East Devon including the Otter.
Dunlin – occur in nationally important numbers on the Exe estuary as well as on the Axe, Taw-Torridge, Kingsbridge and at Slapton Sands.
Wigeon – Mostly on the Exe estuary but also Taw/Torridge and Kingsbridge estuaries
Red breasted merganser – Exe and Teign estuaries
Oystercatcher – Exe and Taw/Torridge estuaries (as well as breeding birds on Lundy, Exe, Taw-Torridge, Otter and the Axe)
Snipe – widespread on coastal marshes and wet fields

Breeding

Little ringed plover – have bred in Devon since 2002 in very small numbers, usually on wetlands next to Devon’s larger estuaries.

Migratory

Migratory birds: osprey and little ringed plover. Little ringed plover in Devon in low numbers.

See Find out more for links to more detailed information on this group including management advice and records.

Actions

See the Coast page for more information and actions which will benefit estuarine birds.

Critical actions for birds include:

Reduce disturbance to wintering and breeding estuarine birds by managing recreational, commercial and navigation impacts.

Restore natural coastal dynamics and increase the area of intertidal habitats such as mudflats, saltmarsh and seagrass beds .

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas: Devon’s estuaries. Actions should be targeted to those mapped as key estuaries for wintering waders, see Species Opportunity Areas. These are the Exe, Tamar, Erme, Taw-Torridge, Otter, Axe and Kingsbridge estuaries.

3. Inspiration

Case studies

This section will be finalised following public consultation. Please share any case studies and places to visit.

New inter-tidal habitats have been created in recent years, both through projects to manage coastal floodbank realignment (on the Exe, Axe and Otter estuaries) and unmanaged breaching of sea walls (Taw Torridge estuary).

Lower Otter Restoration Project

The Lower Otter Restoration Project is a flagship intertidal habitat restoration and climate adaptation project delivered by the Environment Agency in partnership with the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust and Clinton Devon Estates. The project included making a 70-meter breach in coastal embankments to reconnect the Otter Estuary to its historic floodplain, restoring 55ha of wetland habitat. Record-breaking numbers of wading birds have since been seen regularly in the area since wetland development began.

South East Devon Wildlife

South East Devon Wildlife was created by East Devon, Exeter and Teignbridge councils to protect internationally important sites including the Exe Estuary from disturbance and damage arising from use by the increasing local population. Funded through a levy on new local houses, the new activities it delivers include:
– Wildlife wardens delivering a programme of education.
– Wildlife refuges near Dawlish Warren and Exmouth to protect wildlife by providing undisturbed space for protected birds.
– Updated codes of conduct for all the different types of groups using the Exe Estuary and other sites so they can use the areas whilst protecting nature.
– A patrol boat on the Exe Estuary, to educate and enforce.