MORE THAN 30 people joined a free guided tour of the estuary from Frogmore Creek to Charleton Marsh last weekend with Kingsbridge Natural History Society.

They saw an array of wildfowl that regularly spend the winter months here, escaping the harsh conditions of their breeding grounds in northern Europe.

Chris Klee, chairman of the Kingsbridge Natural History Society explained: ‘Curlews, oystercatchers and shelduck were the first to show, followed by a flock of elegant great crested grebes - already beginning to show their breeding plumage.

‘Three elegant godwits posed in the sun, showing their long straight bills, and large numbers of Brent geese flew over to land and feed on the grassy hillside beyond the creek.

‘The torrential rain of the previous day seemed to have encouraged geese, curlews and oystercatchers to look for earthworms on the land rather than probe for lugworms in the estuary mud, so telescopes were helpful in bringing the distant birds into view. Only one red-breasted merganser put in an appearance but two great northern divers were a rare treat. These large birds breed in North America where their wailing cries echo over freshwater lakes and form the soundtrack of many scary film soundtracks.’

Kingsbridge Natural History Society provided guides, each with a telescope to help people see birds clearly and to help with identification and some life history information.

The society will be putting on more ‘experiencing wildlife’ events this spring and summer which will be announced on the website www.knhs.org.uk. The site has many links to other similar local bodies to provide residents and visitors with useful information about local landscapes and wildlife.

The next indoor society meeting, where people can join on the door, will be held on Monday, February 22 at 7.30pm at West Charleton Village Hall.