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 intertidal habitatsThe natural environment in which an animal, plant or other o... More (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 Focus Species 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, habitatThe natural environment in which an animal, plant or other o... More 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, spi... More populations of inter-tidal habitats.

See the Coast page for more details.

2. What we need to do and where

Focus 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.

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

See Find out more below for where to find detailed species records.

Actions

Reduce disturbance to habitats and species by managing recreational, commercial and navigation impacts
Identify and raise awareness of the importance of high tide roosts along Devon estuaries.
Restore natural coastal dynamics and increase the area of intertidal habitats such as mudflats, saltmarsh and seagrass beds
See the Coast page for more details on these actions and on other generic actions which will benefit estuarineOf or found where large rivers join the sea. More birds.

Where to focus action

Species Opportunity Area: The following estuaries have been identified as where actions are most needed for wintering birds – Exe, Tamar, Erme, Taw-Torridge, Otter, Axe and Kingsbridge estuaries

3. Inspiration

Case studies

Case studies and Where to visit will be agreed following discussion through public consultation period and then finalised.

There’s. lots of great work going on across Devon for estuarine birds. For example:

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.