Breeding Firsts

Since the excitement of the Night Heron last month, I thought I would do a quick update on the other exciting news and the joys of being a local patch birder. I have now been birding the Otter Estuary NR for 17 years and it is has changed hugely, particularly since the restoration project.

I first started birding here in Feb 2009 and it is fascinating to see the changes in bird life. The site is clearly still in a state of transition, as it has only been 18 months since the "breach" in October 2023 that reconnected the river to part of its historical floodplain.

The major winners to date seem to be Shelduck with counts in excess of 100 birds in late April  and many birds now have ducklings, but seemingly low numbers compared to such high counts of adults.? The other notable changes have included three new breeders for the site:

1 - Grey Heron - A single nest along the river and is presumably attributable to the creation of more feeding areas as a result of the restoration?

2 - Oystercatcher - Two nesting attempts by two pairs. So far one unsuccessful....

3 - Stonechat - Presumably nothing to do with the restoration project, but great to see with birds fledging 4 juveniles around Little Marsh.

Other notable birds today (9th June) were an unseasonal female Pintail and a Teal.

Our colour-ringed Curlews continue to grow in number with a new 3rd bird using the site. 

Two are Dartmoor 'head-started" birds:  

"OT" has been loyal to the site since Sept 2024

"33" appeared on 15th May 2025

The new bird is a Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust project bird:

"73" I first discovered on 31st May and is from either Dorset, Sussex or Kent - Awaiting info

Thanks to Kev Rylands for the update:

Curlew 73 is from Cranborne Chase, Dorset in 2023. First seen at Dawlish Warren 14 Sep 2023 and seen regularly until March 2025.

First breeding attempt of Grey Heron in the Otter Valley

First breeding attempt of Grey Heron in the Otter Valley

One of two Grey Heron chicks that hatched

One of the 4 Stonechat juveniles

A very smart male Stonechat

The Mute Swans at White Bridge had 2 cygnets this year

One of the Shelduck family groups

An unseasonal Pintail, 9th June

Cattle Egrets, Little Marsh from 30 April

All 3 colour-ringed Curlews, 9th June