South Devon - Berry Head's Natural History (Day Trip)

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!