For a new venture, in January we headed to Devon for a weekend's birding. We first visited the River Exe and Bowling Green Marsh where we were greeted by large flocks of brent geese overhead. There were waders including turnstone, black-tailed godwit and avocet, as well as excellent views of a roosting spoonbill. After a lunch watching flocks of linnets and winter thrushes, we found the coast at Dawlish Warren a challenge because of the strong, biting wind, but were cheered by a confiding rock pipit.
At Broadsands the next day, such are the vagaries of the British weather that the morning was still, and the sea calm. This enabled us to see razorbill, great northern diver and fulmar, whilst at the back of the beach car park where there is a feeding station for cirl buntings, we were lucky enough to see both male and female of this scarce species.
