On 11th May 2022, after my cancelled trip to Lundy island, I drove from Ilfracombe in north Devon down to Exeter and then visited the following sites in south and east Devon:
RSPB Labrador Bay near Teignmouth, Devon
River Otter at Otterton, Devon
RSPB Labrador Bay is a beautiful coastal reserve near Shaldon south of Teignmouth in south Devon and it offers stunning views over Lyme Bay. It is part of a working farm grazed by cattle in the summer and sheep in the winter. Habitats include coastal cliff top, woodland, scrub and low-intensity arable and semi-improved grasslands. RSPB Labrador Bay was purchased in 2008 to help secure the future of the Cirl Bunting, a rare resident and breeding bird whose population is restricted to south Devon and, more recently, parts of Cornwall.
Cirl Bunting is a species that I have seen in several European countries. I recorded it for the first time in the UK in 2016 and saw it in all the following years except last year. My previous sightings had all been at a winter feeding station at Broadsands south of Paignton.
This was my first visit to RSPB Labrador Bay and it proved to be very successful with sightings of a pair of Cirl Buntings, 3 other singing males and a single female. I had were very good views of these birds through my binoculars but I was unable to get any photos. However, here are some of my photos of Cirl Buntings that I took in northern Greece in May 2015 ....
The highlights, amongst 12 species recorded during my visit, were as follows (heard only records in italics): Cirl Bunting (1 pair, 3 other singing males and a single female), Blackcap (1 singing male), Chiffchaff (2 singing males), Skylark (1 singing male plus another singing male heard), Common Buzzard (2), Kestrel (1)
Addition to my 2022 year list: Cirl Bunting
In addition to birds, I recorded
the following butterflies: Painted Lady (1), Small Tortoiseshell
(1), Meadow Brown (10+)
After visiting RSPB Labrador Bay, I drove north back to Exeter and then
8 miles east to RSPB Aylesbeare Common. Unfortunately, this proved to be a
disappointing experience with only a single singing male Chiffchaff and
2 Small Tortoiseshells being the only species of note.
It was then time for my first visit to the River Otter in the village of Otterton to hopefully see and photograph Beavers.
In 2022, Devon is in the unique position of being the only county in England with thriving Beaver populations on several rivers. In addition to the beavers in the River Otter catchment, there is also a substantial Beaver population on the River Tamar and a small population on a tributary of the River Taw, with evidence of some beaver activity on the River Taw itself.
The story of Devon’s wild Beavers began on the River Otter in east Devon. A population of Beavers, of unknown origin, has been present on the River Otter since around 2008. However, when video evidence emerged proving that the Beavers had given birth to kits in 2014, the UK Government initially planned to have them removed from the river.
Devon Wildlife Trust opposed their removal and, alongside local residents, they led a campaign to allow the Beavers to remain. Devon Wildlife Trust presented an alternative plan to the UK Government: to turn the situation into a 5-year trial to monitor the effects of Beavers on the landscape and manage any conflicts.
The River Otter Beaver Trial River Otter Beaver Trial ran from 2015 to 2020 and it was England’s first wild Beaver re-introduction project with Beavers not in fenced enclosures but free to establish territories along the full length of the River Otter and its tributaries. Starting with 2 family groups, who were health screened and then re-released on the River Otter in March 2015, by the end of the 5-year trial there were an estimated 15 family groups throughout the river catchment.
As part of the licence issued by Natural England, Devon Wildlife Trust was permitted to introduce more Beavers to the River Otter. The presence of Beavers unrelated to the original family group was important for the genetic diversity of the population.
In August 2020, the UK Government announced that Devon's Beavers could stay and that they could spread naturally into other river catchments. This was a landmark decision and one of the most important moments in England's conservation history: the first legally sanctioned reintroduction of an extinct native mammal to England. That decision means that the Beaver population in east Devon now has a secure future.
The Beaver conservation work undertaken by the Devon Wildlife Trust now continues on 2 other river catchments, the River Tamar and the River Taw, in addition to the River Otter. The Devon Wildlife Trust monitors Beaver populations, checks on the welfare of the animals when necessary and resolves any conflicts between their use of the landscape and the needs of landowners and the local community.
There are family groups of Beavers living throughout the whole length of the River Otter and some of its tributaries and they have been active in the lower reaches of the River Otter ever since the idea of the River Otter Beaver Trial was first proposed by the Devon Wildlife Trust in 2014.
Fortunately, this area is well covered by footpaths very close to the riverbank and Beavers are regularly spotted around the village of Otterton. There are public footpaths on the riverbank both upstream and downstream from Otterton and some stretches of the lower River Otter have a public footpath on both banks.
Beavers Back in Devon from RB Media on Vimeo.
Prior
to my visit, I had contacted the Devon Wildlife Trust (beavers@devonwildlifetrust.org) to ask for any advice
on the best locations to see Beavers on the River Otter and I received a
very helpful reply from Matt Holden who is the Devon Beaver Project Lead …. thank you
so much Matt for the information and all that you and your team have done, and
continue to do, to support the re-introduction of such a charismatic mammal
that brings so many benefits to the natural environment and biodiversity.
More information on Beavers in Devon can be found here ….
Beavers | Devon Wildlife Trust
Beavers in the wild | Devon Wildlife Trust
The River Otter Beaver Trial | Devon Wildlife Trust
Where to see beavers | Devon Wildlife Trust
Beaver videos | Devon Wildlife Trust
In addition, the following books are highly recommended ....
The Beaver Book - Hugh Warwick - Graffeg Books
Bringing Back the Beaver - Derek Gow - Chelsea Green Publishing
So
…. to my experience of Beaver watching on the River Otter.
I have only seen a Beaver on a single occasion in the UK at SWT Loch of the Lowes in Perthshire in Scotland during my trip to north and west Scotland in June 2019 although I did see 8 Beavers from a boat trip in Matsalu National Park on my trip to Estonia in May 2016.
My
evening and dawn visits to the River Otter undoubtedly provided my best
experience ever of watching and photographing Beavers and Matt’s directions
and advice proved to be spot on.
My evening visit from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. resulted in exceptional views of 2 Beavers, an adult and a presumed sub-adult or first year kit judging by their sizes.
Photography was challenging although several other people who had started their visits at around 6 p.m. had been very successful given the evidence shown to me on the back of their cameras! I failed to take any acceptable photos on this first visit.
In addition to the Beavers, the highlights, amongst 14 species recorded during my visit, were as follows (heard only records in italics): Grey Wagtail (2), Chiffchaff (1 singing male), Blackcap (1 singing male), Swift (4), Swallow (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1 calling bird), Rook (c.20), Mallard (c.25 including ducklings), Moorhen (1)
Photo: River Otter south of Otterton, Devon
Photo: River Otter south of Otterton, Devon
Given the change to my itinerary, I had no overnight accommodation planned so, after finding something to eat, I slept in the car for a few hours before a return to the River Otter at 5:15 a.m. the next morning.
💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
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