Spring Wildlife Watching in South Devon

An exceptionally rich variety of wildlife is found in the last great wilderness of southern England - Dartmoor - and along the beautiful and varied coastline of South Devon. In mid-May, both breeding and migrant birdlife is at full throttle, insects are becoming obvious and many plants are in full flower. It’s a gorgeous time. In Devon’s ‘deep south’, we’ll look for the rare Cirl Bunting at one of its rugged coastal sites, where newly arrived migrant birds often include something out of the ordinary. Nearby Slapton Ley, the largest natural freshwater lake in the south-west, will bring a very different range of birds, including Cetti’s Warbler. Further north, the Exe Estuary and its marshes is a mecca for birds and birdwatchers. At high tide we’ll sift through the roosting waders and terns that feed in and around the estuary, while offshore there might be skuas or shearwaters passing by if the wind blows onshore. If there's sun, we might be lucky enough to see basking Sand Lizards in the sand dunes or Hairy Dragonflies on territory.

By contrast, Dartmoor brings a taste of upland Britain with a fantastic mix of heather moorland, bogs and ancient woodland. These elements host such species as Hobby, Snipe, Pied Flycatcher, Grasshopper, Dartford and Wood Warblers, Stonechat and Whinchat, all of which we’ll hope to see. There will also be some optional pre-breakfast bird watching and after-dinner excursions to see Nightjar and Greater Horseshoe Bats leaving their daytime roost.