Seaton Marshes Nature Reserve/Bird Hide - East Devon

[Polecat]

Seaton Marshes Nature Reserve/Bird Hide is situated close to the Estuary of the River Axe, for those that don't know the area, the Main estuary is around 1 mile long and 5-750m wide....though the tidal range speads back nearly to the A3052 ( lyme regis - Sidmouth rd ) . The Nature reserve is on the main estuary but cover salt Marshes also, to the West. The Bird Hide is close to the high tide mark of the estuary .
There is disabled access to the hide, and in fact, on my visit last week there was a person in a wheel chair at the hide.

Over many years, its the salt marshes that have rewarded me with some great birdy sights!!......yet I think the hide caters more for the mud estuary sort of bird watcher and the proper marshes inland from the hide are barely visible.


A real pain is that the hide has been built with the seaton tramway track between it and the estuary, with the associated overhead wires and trams every 5minutes at peak times. So its nigh impossible to get a good photo of a bird flying because of the wires and some of the tram drivers hoot their horn and wave at the quiet unassuming birders!!!......just what you don't want.........and then loads of tourists gork at you!!

Though don't let this put you off visiting the hide, even if you decide a better view is afforded from the road between seaton and axmouth opposite, which lets you get even closer to the estuary!!! ( see photo )

There is much to be applauded with this initiative though its location by the tramtrack is appalling.....but a nice quiet time can be had between trams! The reserve has built some pools around the hide and provided bird tables close to the tramtrack, though these were void of food during my visit.

Parking for the hide should not be a prob, as marked on the map and if those 4 places are full then theres plenty of unrestricted parking 50 yds further back.


Some pics

[Tinkerbell]

I shall certainly give this a 'look-see' when I'm in this area of Devon next Polecat. Thanks for putting it on the map for us, so to speak.

Tink

[Polecat]

Hi Tinkerbell, I think this is quite a recent development and so probably is not that widely known.

Before the trams got properly established I used to walk the line from colyford to Seaton, and could get very close to the action, particular favorites were Avocets, but it is a place that teams with short term visits of rarer birds.

Below is a page from the bird log there......but on other pages post those dates, highlights were whimbrel and cettis warbler.

[cherrybee]

I visited Seaton Marsh with Beryl and it is a lovely place to be.On the walk to the hide we saw butterflies insects sheep marshes it was very beautiful.Unfortunately we didnt see much that was close enough for our camera at the hide but I did see the lists myself and will go back to it as soon as I get my other camera back.I am back on the road as from today bike now taxed insured and M O T'd so look out wildlife here I come
You can see several images of Seaton marsh in my gallery here is jut one.Afraid the ducks were a little too far off but there are more images there of the fields and marshes
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...mage-6680.html

[Polecat]

Hi Cherrybee......so its been open over a year then!!!.......the midweek herald recently did a piece on it ( which intimated it was new ) which is how I found out.

I think its imperitive that the tide is fairly high for a visit, I went at low tide and shelduck were virtually the only things there....( pretty as they are )

I've gotta have a moan about the sheep......they destroy the nests of ground nesting birds.......if they wern't there there would be a lot more to see to the south North and west of the hide. Thats the beauty of the marshes further up where there are no sheep.

I'm going down again at dawn this week to have a gander, but will probably end up parked near Axmouth!!!

Loose the sheep east devon district council!!!

[cherrybee]

Originally Posted by Polecat

Hi Cherrybee......so its been open over a year then!!!.......the midweek herald recently did a piece on it ( which intimated it was new ) which is how I found out.

I think its imperitive that the tide is fairly high for a visit, I went at low tide and shelduck were virtually the only things there....( pretty as they are )

I've gotta have a moan about the sheep......they destroy the nests of ground nesting birds.......if they wern't there there would be a lot more to see to the south North and west of the hide. Thats the beauty of the marshes further up where there are no sheep.

I'm going down again at dawn this week to have a gander, but will probably end up parked near Axmouth!!!

Loose the sheep east devon district council!!!

I was there with Beryl 29th May last year but not sure when it was opened or when the hide was built.
Here is a link for the leaflet you need adobe reader
http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/cs-seatonmarshesleaflet.pdf

[Polecat]

Some of you may also be interested ....there are Fireflys resident there, the only place I've seen them in the UK.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Polecat

Some of you may also be interested ....there are Fireflys resident there, the only place I've seen them in the UK.

Fire flies? I didn't even know we had those here! You don't mean glow worms do you?

[Polecat]

HI Gill,

I don't know their proper name......After a late night out on the town ( in seaton !!! lol ) ( or if I was working late ) ...... and it was summer, I used to collect a handful to accompany me home on my 4 mile walk....as it was all unlit in those days after midnight.

I usually returned them the next day.

They did fly though and they did glow!!!! ..fireglows?!!

[bob hastie]

Hi there, this is my first post on the forum, been a member for a few days now and have just been feeling my way up to now.
I visit Seaton fairly regularly, but prefer Colyford reserve just up the estuary a bit.
A visit to either of these places at the right time is very worth while. Just before or after high tide for Seaton or at high tide for Colyford.
Included are 3 photos all digiscoped at Seaton, note the kestrel sat on the power lines for the trams, they do have their uses

[Polecat]

Hi Bob,

Lovely photos. I havn't got anywhere near taking a kingfisher yet .....

As I said earlier, many years ago I always found the wildlife in the marshes near colyford much more interesting......

About the colyford site.

I will be down there next week again......and many years ago there was nowhere 'proper' to go apart from a wander along the tramtrack!!

Could you possible give a brief description & directions to the reserve please.....

Thanks Andy

[bob hastie]

Hi Andy
Colyford reserve isn't the easiest place to find, its very simple to drive right past the entrance and not know it.
To get there head towards Colyford from the Seaton reserve and park at grid ref. SY 249 922 parking is on the road only.
Here there is a small gate on the right hand side of the road and a small welcome sign.
Following the track down hill look out for Black Cap etc in the trees on the right, this leads you to another gate and onto the reserve proper. Its always worth stopping here and scanning the fence posts leading out onto the reserve, I've seen kingfisher from here at very high tides.
Over the last winter a new hide has been erected on the reserve in place of the old viewing platform, giving more height but in my opinion a more restrictive view. From the hide views can be had out over the upper part of the estuary and over a small (and at present) dry scrape, very good for waders in the autumn/winter.
To the left of the hide a new walkway leads to another recent addition to the reserve, a raised screen, giving good views over part of the reserve not previously accessible, this has only been open a few weeks, so I'm not too sure what the birds make of it.
I'd recommend an early visit for the best birding, if this isn't possible then I see that high tide is about lunch time this weekend which often brings birds from the estuary.

Hope you found this helpful, enjoy your visit
Bob