Spent a lovely day at Berry Head near Brixham looking for birds and various other flora and fauna. Despite the misty weather and occasional drizzle, we saw a wide range of both native and migratory birds on the headland along with a number of porpoise and tuna out at sea. Our guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. I have been on a few Naturetrek trips, both week long holidays and day trips and have always been extremely happy with the pre-trip information and the guides. I am planning another trip with them in 2024.
T.C. Worcestershire, Oct 23
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South Devon - Berry Head's Natural History (Day Trip)
Tour Code: GBR168An exciting day exploring the famous Berry Head reserve in south Devon for migrant birds, as well as seawatching, with a good chance of cetaceans.
£50 (land only)
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Summary
Torbay resident naturalist Mike Langman will take you on a guided natural history exploration of Berry Head’s (SSSI & National Nature Reserve) very best natural history – birds, botany, fish, insects and heritage plus its 400 million-year-old geology.
With over 40 years of study at Berry Head Mike knows the whereabouts of much of the headland's more unusual fauna and flora from Cirl Buntings and Small Blue butterflies to some of Britain’s rarest plants: White Rock-rose, Honeywort, Small Restharrow, Small Hare’s-ear plus orchids and much more. Some of the day will be spent studying the work being carried out on the reserve for Cirl Buntings and Greater Horseshoe Bats.
Invertebrates may include Bloody-nosed and Oil Beetles, scarce resident butterflies such as Wall Brown, plus migrant butterflies given the right conditions.
England’s south coast’s largest Guillemot colony should be bustling with life on Thrift-filled cliffs, careful searching should find a few Razorbills, Fulmars and perhaps the last remaining Kittiwakes. Many of the summer migrants such as Whitethroats and Blackcaps should be on their territories singing and displaying. Being out in the spring anything is possible from Willow Warblers to a rarity or scarcity like a Hoopoe!
Off the end of the headland the mixing of currents from Torbay and Lyme Bay always attracts wildlife, depending on conditions on the day this might include Harbour Porpoise, Common Dolphin, Grey Seal or seabirds including Gannet, Fulmar, Manx Shearwater or even a Puffin.
There are plenty of public facilities on site and the fantastic Guardhouse Café should anyone require a coffee, cake or light lunch although we normally opt for a picnic lunch.
The day will include approximately 3-4 miles of walking on mostly good paths but occasionally coming off these in search of some of the best natural history. The headland is mostly flat to moderate inclines but there is one steep road into and out of the quarry.
- Seawatching may produce shearwaters, terns, skuas & gannets
- Study the south coast's largest, bustling Guillemot colony
- Common Dolphins and Harbour Porpoise regularly seen
- Cirl Buntings on the headland meadows
- Butterflies including the local Small Blue, and migrant species
- Look for seasonal orchids and special flora such as the rare White Rock-rose
- Visible migration of birds of prey, swallows, martins and Swifts possible
- Search the scrub for migrants which may include flycatchers or scarcer warblers
- Led by expert Mike Langman who has been birding this area for more than 45 years
Reaching the headland we will walk to the old coast guard station and lighthouse, and from here we’ll scan the sea for any passing seabirds or cetaceans. Divers, auks and skuas may pass by offshore and Berry Head has an excellent reputation for sightings of Common Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises. The isolated scrub on the headland can hold resting or sheltering migrant birds, typically Goldcrest, Chiffchaffs and perhaps Firecrest or even something rarer! The grassy open areas at the head are best for any late Wheatears or pipits. Walking back via the southern slopes of the northern headland, we’ll look out for resident Stonechat, mobile tit flocks and thrushes. The blackthorn- and hawthorn-covered slopes regularly hide Ring Ouzel during the autumn.
The south coast’s largest Guillemot colony should be bustling with life on thrift-filled cliffs.
With over 40 years of study at Berry Head Mike knows the whereabouts of much of the headland's more unusual fauna and flora from Cirl Buntings and Small Blue butterflies to orchids and of course the White Rock-rose. Some of the day will be spent studying the work being carried out on the reserve for Cirl Buntings and Greater Horseshoe Bats.
From mid-April many of the summer migrants such as Whitethroats and Blackcaps should be announcing their territories with song and display. Being out in the middle of many bird species' migration period anything is possible from Willow Warblers to a Hoopoe!
Off the end of the headland the mixing of currents from Torbay and Lyme Bay always attracts wildlife, depending on conditions on the day this might include Harbour Porpoise, Common Dolphin, Grey Seal or seabirds including Gannet, Fulmar, Manx Shearwater or even a Puffin.
There is an opportunity for a coffee stop at the Guardhouse Café while we look south towards the high cliffs which, during the summer, hold England’s largest south coast breeding Guillemot colony. Surprisingly, many of the Guillemots return to the cliffs from mid-autumn to rest and roost on the cliffs for the winter – sometimes over 1,000 can be seen early in the mornings, with smaller numbers coming and going throughout the day.
In the lower quarry area there may be more migrant birds in the scrub-filled lower dell, or passing seabirds at the seawatch point. We can hope for skuas and shearwaters mixing with more numerous Kittiwakes, auks and Gannets offshore and we shall learn about Berry Head’s fascinating geological history and see evidence of its beginnings, 400 million years ago!
Our lunch break may be spent seawatching while we eat, before we visit Brixham Breakwater. The harbour can be good for early wintering divers and holds one of Torbay’s last wintering sites for Purple Sandpipers, which are usually accompanied by Turnstones and Rock Pipits. The working fishing port attracts many species of gull (including Mediterranean Gull), and Grey Seals can also often be seen. We will finish our day with a slow walk back up to Berry Head via the woodlands. These, mostly sycamore, woodlands are a favourite haunt for hungry warblers, tits and perhaps a late flycatcher. We may finish with a final look over at the Guillemot colony as birds will be coming back to roost during the late afternoon before heading back to the car park. The total walking distance will be around 4 miles on good paths and roads which can be steep in places but we have plenty of time to cover them!
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Reviews
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We had a private walking trip observing birds & cetaceans in a variety of environments (headland, copse, field, cliff, harbour) & saw a wide variety of fauna as well as learning about the history, geology, flora, butterflies, etc, thanks to our expert guide, Mike who had been birdwatching in the area for decades. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide, clearly an expert with a wealth of knowledge to draw on as well as able to tailor the trip to the group, particularly as one of us had limited mobility. I learnt so much & saw so many birds & a porpoise & a seal that I would never have seen on my own.
C.R. Devon, Oct 20 -
Mike Langham is an absolutely ace birder and an interesting and considerate guide and what he does not know about Berry Head is not worth knowing. We had a really good day out with excellent sea watching, walks in woodland and bushland, plenty of birds and insects, and some porpoises. Many thanks we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and feel our tanks are recharged!
L.P. & M.M. Cornwall
Dates & Prices
2024
Tour Leader: Mike Langman
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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