Exe Estuary foray

6 March - The Exe Estuary cruise that we postponed from Jan due to poor weather, and much better today, with sun and a breeze. An impressive array of waders seen on the rising tide, highlights being Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Knot and of course the wintering Avocets, as well as both Godwits, Grey and Ringed Plovers, Sanderling and Turnstone. Slavonian Grebe was seen in the form of the resident bird, and 2 rarities, firstly a brief flight view of the wintering Bonaparte's Gull, and then the Black Brant with the Dark-bellied Brent flock. All in all an excellent trip. An early start also gave me the bonus of point blank views of Cirl Buntings at the well-known Broadsands car park feeding station in the morning sun - stunning. A Firecrest was also seen here.