Seaton Marshes
The River Axe rises near Beaminster in Dorset from where it flows west then south to Axminster and joins the English Channel at Axmouth near Seaton. During its 22-mile (35 km) course it is fed by various streams and by the tributary rivers Yarty and Coly.
It is a shallow, non-navigable river until it reaches the village of Axmouth where the high tides flowing up the estuary allow sailing dingies and canoes to use the estuary up river of the bridges at Axmouth Harbour.
Low tide in the estuary leaves a narrow shallow river flowing down to the sea through mud flats cut with creeks and several low lying islands bounded on eastern side by the B3172 Axmouth Road and the built up track of the Seaton Tramway on the west side.
The Seaton Tramway runs alongside the estuary through the flood plain which stretch further westwards until the land starts to rise and the houses of the town.
Further up river past Axmouth, the river flows through low lying salt flats until it reaches Colyford Common with its grazing marshes and the A3052 from where it meanders on its way to Axminster.
The high tide covers the mud flats and salt marsh ebbing and flowing twice a day.
During periods of heavy rain, flood water flows down the Axe to where it backs up against the tide covering large areas of the flood plain and grazing marsh.
It is these mud flats and salt marsh rich in wild life which attract the numerous species of birds which either over winter or pass through on their migratory travels.
There are two Local Nature Reserves both of which are are owed and managed by East Devon District Council.
The Seaton Marshes LNR can be reached with a short walk from the Harbour Road car park.
A path leads to the purpose built bird hide built on the side of the estuary. The hexagonal hide gives views not only of the estuary and its mud flats and creeks but also of the adjacent flood plain and its scrapes and ditches.
The LNR is a impressive place to visit in the winter with its large feeding flocks of Widgeon and Teal as can Black Tailed Godwit and the elusive Snipe. Large numbers of Curlew can be seen feeding on the mud flats feeding on the rich harvest of animals with their specially adapted long, down curved beaks pulling animals like lugworms from deep down in the mud.
In the Summer Kingfishers are often seen fishing from a perch directly in front of the hide, and a bird table provides close-up views of birds that you wouldn’t find on your garden table, like reed buntings and even perhaps a water rail.
Within the Seaton Marsh LNR is Borrow Pit two small pools which have recently been made accessible to bird watchers where Little Grebes nest and Sedge Warblers can be seen.
Black Hole Marsh, the original name given to this part of the estuary is a new wetland for the reserve. It lies close to Colyford Common and Seaton Marshes Local Nature Reserves and is now a large saltwater lagoon having been a freshwater marsh for the past 150 years.
The lagoon is being filled using a self-regulating tidal gate to allow salty water to enter the site, whilst still preventing flooding of the adjacent land. This stable, shallow, saline lagoon is perfect for encouraging very high levels of invertebrates, providing plenty of food to sustain birds during their amazing annual migrations.
The reserve features islands for wading birds to roost on and a new freshwater reed-bed for priority species such as Reed Bunting and Reed Warbler.
This site is not yet open to the public, the best views of Black Hole Marsh are currently to be had from the top of one of Seaton′s delightful trams and the site is set to become a firm favourite with the winter bird-watching trams organised by the Seaton Tramway.
Further up river is the Colyford Common LNR with its salt marshes.
Access is from the path leading off Seaton Road near the village of Colyford. A raised board walk leads to a raised bird hide giving views over Colyford Marsh and the upper estuary with a further board walk leading to a viewing platform which over looks over a large salt water scrape.
This grazing marsh is regularly flooded by the sea at spring high tides creating a different habitat with unusual flora and fauna with the ground conditions uneven and cut through with run off's and raised tussocks of grasses.
The rising tide will cause the flocks of migratory birds to move up the estuary from Seaton LNR to Colyford Common in search of food and a place to settle.
The Autumn migration brings many different species of birds to the Common with the winter months bringing flocks of Widgeon, Teal, Shelduck waders and other waterfowl.
The Axe Estuary and Seaton Bay Bird Report 2007 lists 211 species of birds that were identified as being seen by the contributors.
The Axe Estuary and Seaton Bay Bird Report 2007. Edited by Gavin Haig. Published by East Devon District Council. Pp.114 Price £7.50
The report also includes articles on rare species seen in the area (Audouin`s Gull, Bonaparte’s Gull, Iberian Chiffchaff and Stone Curlew)
Links to Seaton Birding Blogs
There is a purpose built viewing hide on the edge of the Axe estuary overlooking the marshes and flood plain and a viewing platform at Colyford Common which offers views of the upper estuary and surrounding salt marsh.
