South Devon - Slapton Ley (Day Trip)

In spring...

Slapton can be an important staging post for migrants and alongside the last of the wintering waterfowl, we might be lucky to see one of the scarce grebe species, coming into its breeding colours, or a passing Garganey. Great-crested Grebes display out on the ley whilst the reedbeds and thickets buzz with the songs of Reed, Sedge and Cetti’s Warblers. Sometimes large numbers of passing Swallows, Martins and Swifts gather over the ley hawking for insects. Exceptionally, these might be joined by a Black Tern but more likely they’ll attract the interest of one of the local Sparrowhawks or a passing Hobby. Water Rails and Kingfishers are regularly seen, Cirl Buntings sing from the hedgerows and Slapton remains one of the very best places in south Devon to encounter an Otter.

Out in Start Bay, there’s a good chance of seeing a lingering Great Northern or Red-throated Diver and there are likely to be feeding Auks and Gannets, newly arrived Sandwich Terns and if we’re lucky, a Harbour Porpoise, Grey Seal or even a pod of Common Dolphins. The flocks of gulls loafing on the beach are always worth a look too, as Mediterranean Gulls are usually around and at this time of year there’s always the chance of something more unusual. The beach itself can be a good place to see newly arrived Wheatears and the rough grassland and scrub immediately inland is worth checking for unusual migrants. 

We’ll walk between five and six miles during the course of the day on largely level paths and there’s a charge of £5.50 for parking.

In winter...

Focusing on birds, we can expect to see a range of common ducks and other waterfowl plus hopefully some scarcer species including Goldeneye, Scaup and Black-necked Grebe. Sometimes a Marsh Harrier appears coasting over the reeds whilst Sparrowhawks and Peregrines are often to be seen, the latter scattering the Tufted Ducks, Coots and Gulls out on the water. The reedbeds and willow thickets hold Cetti’s Warblers and Water Rails, both more often heard than seen and there’s often wintering Firecrests amongst the flocks of Long-tailed Tits and Goldcrests that roam through the woodland. Cirl Buntings, that south Devon speciality, can be seen here too, singing from the hedgerows in fine weather and in most years recently there’s been a wintering Bittern. Excitingly, Slapton also remains one of the very best places in south Devon to encounter an Otter. They are often seen from Slapton bridge as they swim along the narrow channel that links the upper and lower sections of the lake or out fishing on the open ley itself.

Looking offshore across Start Bay towards Start Point we have a good chance of seeing Great Northern or Red-throated Divers, Common Scoter, Razorbills, Gannets and if we’re lucky, a Harbour Porpoise, Grey Seal or even a pod of Common Dolphins. The flocks of gulls loafing on the beach are always worth a look too, as Mediterranean Gulls are regular and there’s always the chance of something more unusual, a Little Gull perhaps or, as the winter progresses, a Glaucous or Iceland Gull.

At some point during the day we’ll take a short drive across to nearby Beesands Ley, another reed-fringed lake similar to Slapton but often with a different range of species to be seen. At the end of the afternoon we’ll return to Slapton to conclude the day watching the local Starling murmuration as they assemble to roost in those famous reedbeds.