Best wildlife and birding in South Devon

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When it comes to getting out to enjoy the outdoors in the UK, wildlife viewing and birding are two popular pastimes which immediately come to mind.

Add some natural beauty, open moorlands and dense woodlands and you will never come across a more superb location than South Devon, in southwest England.

Capturing the beauty of this incredible place through a camera and binoculars is an extremely rewarding experience and a must-visit for any nature enthusiast.

Because of the great balance of countryside and coast, South Devon offers great sightings of birds and animals, all within a short distance of walking from each other. 

To make it easier for you, we have put together a list of some of the best places to spot wildlife and birds and the different species you are likely to spot there.

To make the most of your wildlife holidays in South Devon, going through reliable companies like Naturetrek can ensure your trip is absolutely hassle-free and memorable. 

Berry Head Nature Reserve 

Located near Brixham, The Berry Head Nature Reserve is a top South Devon wildlife destination and home to an array of birds and species.

Walk along the Brixham Breakwater for productive sighting of Purple Sandpipers which are usually accompanied by Rock Pipits and Turnstones at very close distance.The isolated scrubs of the southern slopes are home to Stonechat and Black Redstart.

On a stroll across the headlands you can spot Cirl Bunting in the bushes and Guillemot on the cliffs. During spring you can come across nesting Fulmar and Kittiwake, while Puffins and Razorbills are passing migrants. Other migratory birds seen here are Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat and Whinchat among others.

Barry Head is also home to rare wildlife species like horseshoe bats while basking sharks, seals, harbor porpoises and common dolphins can be viewed on the English Riviera coastline.

Tor Bay

The east facing location of Tor Bay and the mild winter conditions prevailing in the English Riviera has made the area a perfect wintering place for sheltered seabirds who find a safe home in the many coves here.

Land-based excursions across the coastal marshes harbor large colonies of Siberian Chiffchaff while Firecrest are regular winter visitors. There is a winter feeding station of Cirl Buntings often in the company of Reed Buntings. A rocky gully has plenty of courting Shags and an arable field full of Yellowhammers.

A 3-hour cruise to the secluded coves could come up with Auks, Gannets and Grebes. During early spring and winter expect to see Grey Seals, Harbor Porpoise and with some luck Common Dolphins in the bay.

Dartmoor National Park

Apart from excellent hiking trails and historical sites, Dartmoor National Park is also a haven for unique wild animals including the famous Dartmoor Ponies found in the open moorlands.

The woods are also home to the Ash Black Slug, which at 20 cm in length is said to be one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Over the years, over 250 bird species have been recorded here, so this is a good place to see Red Grouse, Golden Plover as well as raptors, ravens and more. Start at the Tor and walk along the old tramways to find swallows and skylarks along the way. Rarities do often turn up here in these habitats such as the Spectacled Warbler 

Slapton Ley

Home to the largest freshwater lake in southwest England, the 490-acre Slapton Ley Nature Reserve, just a short drive from Dartmouth, has become an obvious haven for a plethora of animals and birds.

You can see Cetti’s Warbler and Purple Heron here all round the year as also breeding Great Crested Grebe, Coots and Tufted duck.The reserve is also an important migratory route for swallows.The woodlands are home to badgers, deer, long-eared and pipistrelle bats. 

Rarities found here have included Little Swift and Whiskered Tern.

Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve

This pretty nature is also the site of Special Scientific Research interest and falls within the internationally important wetland centre and a protected area under the EC Birds Directive.

The Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve enjoys a wonderful location for those looking for wild fowl and waders as there is a large population of both these species to be found here.

South Efford Marsh

The South Efford Marsh nature reserve, is one of South Devon’s premier bird watching sites located next to the beautiful meandering course of the River Avon.

The reserve is a patchwork of grazing fields and salt marshes where the waters are regulated by a tidal gate which opens up at high tide to allow the sea water to flow in the reserve.

The park is an important feeding ground for little egrets, shovelers and curlews. The wildlife hide here allows you to get close views of feeding birds and European otters that cross the path now and then.

Man Sands National Trust Reserve

Enjoy a superb day of birding and wildlife watching on a cruise on the Dart river and land-based excursions on Man Sands beaches and marshes of this National Trust Reserve wetland area.

This small reserve holds wintering Wildfowl, Water Rail, Cetti’s Chiffchaff and the occasional Firecrest. While on the cruise you will see Gannets, Kittiwakes and in the pastoral fields Skylarks, Cirl Bunting and Yellowhammer.

Along the Mew Stone estuary you can scan for exciting species like Black Cormorants, Shag, Fulmar, Redshank and at times Peregrine Falcons. Among the resident species expect to see Mediterranean Gull and Oystercatchers.

With some luck you can see both Grey Seal and the rarer Harbor Seal basking on the pontoons or rocks.

Exe Estuary 

The Exe Estuary is home to two nature reserves namely, Exminster Marshes and Bowling Green Marsh which has made both these locations an excellent place to view estuary birds all round the year. Moreover, this area of international importance gives an opportunity to see wintering waders, apart from the wildlife of the two nature reserves.

Thousands of birds spend the winter in this south coast part of Devon, in and around the Exe Estuary and the surrounding marshes as well as between the sea and the gravel hilltops of Great Haldon.

On an Exe Estuary river cruise, large numbers of Little Egrets, Red-Breasted Mergansers and kingfishers come to feed on the abundant fish found here. Sea-dwelling birds like Great Northern Divers and Long-tailed duck move into the estuary in winter.

The highlights of a birding trip include:

• • A special cruise along the Exe Estuary 
  • Possible sightings of Cetaceans within Tor Bay
  • Large colonies of Avocets and Brent Geese

• Divers, Grebes and sea ducks like wigeon, Teal, Pintail and Shoveler which winter here

• The rare Cirl Bunting, a South Devon star species 
• A wide range of waders, wildfowl, gulls, warblers and more.

Useful link for information on the area  – www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk 

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