Devon Bonanza - January 1st 2013

What a great start to the year! A visit to Bowling Green Marsh found 350+ Avocets, good numbers of Black and bar-tailed godwits, a kingfisher, a water rail, the long-staying female long-tailed duck, at least 4 pintail and large numbers of wigeon, teal and shoveler.

Close by at Exeter services were four very obliging waxwings - my first of the winter (they've been very thin on the ground in south Somerset). Sorry for the shaky video - forgot to take my video tripod.

Waxwing, Exeter M5 services: R Harris

Next on to Milbury Lane in Exminster to see another long-staying 1st winter Rose-coloured starling:

1st winter Rose-coloured starling, Exminster: R Harris

1st winter Rose-coloured starling, Exminster: R Harris

1st winter Rose-coloured starling, Exminster: R Harris

Just outside Exminster at least three Cirl buntings showed well along with a mixed flock of chaffinch and 7+ brambling.

Not a bad morning's work!