Festive Devon

23-27 Dec - A seasonal family visit to South Devon, with superb coastal views from the accommodation. Slapton Ley to the north and Start Point stretching away to the south with rolling yet dramatic coastal scenery. Highlights included the long-staying winter plumaged Black-necked Grebe on the Ley, with flyby Gannets along the tide edge. Waders were few and far between due to walkers and dogs but at high tide there was a flighty group of Dunlin and Grey Plover. The only real oddity was a Razorbill in the surf after a windy spell. Stonechats were fairly numerous in cliff-side scrub. Slightly further afield, a visit to Broadsands gave some views of half a dozen or so Cirl Buntings (a species restricted to Devon and Cornwall) with 2 males, one a 1st-year, and the rest females. They were fairly elusive in breezy conditions with intermittent sun, but allowed a few photographic opportunities. Also a couple of Great Northern Divers here, fairly close in.