http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/events/details.a...

Sunday 8 November to Monday 22 February

Selected dates and times only due to tide constraints

Price: RSPB member £12, non-member £15; Wildlife Explorer members £6, child non-member £8

Booking essential

Join friendly RSPB guides onboard the Sea Dream for 1.5 hours (approx) to experience this fantastic spectacle of nature on one of the world's great wetlands.

A few years ago, you would have been lucky to spot avocets anywhere, but today they are a conservation success. Every winter, flocks of up to 500 of these stylish black and white birds with slender curved bills join over 40,000 birds, including hundreds of black-tailed godwits, Brent geese and red-breasted mergansers, flocking to the Exe Estuary from as far afield as Siberia and Greenland. On the 1-1.5 hour cruise, expert commentary ensures you will get to see the diversity within these incredible flocks. Fantastic for beginners and experienced birdwatchers alike.

Trout's Boatyard, Topsham departure dates and times: (prompt departure due to tide constraints)
• Sunday 8 November – departs 10.15 am
• Saturday 28 November - departs 2 pm
• Friday 8 January – departs 11.15 am
• Saturday 9 January – departs 12.15 pm
• Sunday 10 January – departs 1 pm
• Friday 22 January – departs 11.30 am
• Saturday 23 January - departs 12.15 pm
• Sunday 24 January – departs 1 pm

• Sunday 6 February – departs 11 am
• Sunday 7 February – departs 11:45 am
• Monday 8 February – departs 12.45 pm
• Sunday 21 February– departs 12 noon
• Monday 22 February - departs 1 pm

With a passenger limit of 40 people, book your place early to avoid disappointment.

Booking is via Eventbrite. Please click the link below for more details:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rspb-avocet-cruises-topsham-registration-...

All tickets are non-refundable unless the cruise has been cancelled due to extreme weather (sometimes cancelling on the day of departure). All bookings are accepted on this basis. In the event of such a cancellation, a full refund of the ticket price will be made, or the booking transferred to an alternative sailing by mutual agreement. Although every effort will be made to sail, the final decision will remain with the skipper of the boat. A recorded message detailing latest sailing and weather information will be available prior to every cruise on 01392 453770.

There is no need to bring booking details as we will have a list of attendees. But we suggest you bring extra warm clothing and waterproofs for your boat trip - the Exe Estuary can be a very cold place in winter!

Disabled access information

Access from the jetty to/from the boat can present difficulties. Our boat owners/skippers welcome passengers with restricted mobility but the safety of all our passengers is of paramount importance. Therefore a degree of mobility (assisted if necessary) is required when boarding or moving around the boat. Wheelchair users must be accompanied by someone who can assist them in the event of an emergency. Please tell us when you book your place if anyone within your party has a condition that could make boarding or moving around the boat difficult. We can then seek specific advice from the skipper.

Cruise departure:

Trout's Boatyard is on the Exe and is situated between Topsham's Lighter Inn at The Quay and St Margaret's Church steps.

BY BUS: Number 57 (Exeter/Exmouth service) to Georgian Tea Rooms (start of High St). The 'T' bus (Exeter/Topsham service) stops at The Quay.

BY RAIL: Frequent service on the Exeter St Davids/Exeter Central/Exmouth route. 15 min walk (approx) from Topsham Station to Trout's Boatyard.

BY BICYCLE: Exe Estuary Trail is part of National Cycle Network Route 2. (some on-road cycling).

BY CAR: Leave the M5 at J30, follow A376 to Topsham. There are two pay and display car parks: Holman Way car park has 75 spaces, The Quay car park has 24 spaces but please allow time to find alternative parking - as these car parks can fill up very