Premier Birding

January the first is always the cue for birders who year list to wipe the slate clean and get started on their new tally's. Yesterday was the first time that I had managed to get out birding with the usual gang since 2010 and I was also able stay out for most of the day.
The early plans had been to go to Dawlish Warren and work back but due to a mix up in communication I was the only one to arrive at the reserve at 8am.
I had a 20 minute walk and a look out over the sea before arranging to meet the others at Topsham. Scanning the flat calm sea I picked out three Grebes but as I had forgotten to bring my 'scope I was unsure as to the species, eventually settling for Red-Necked due the size and shape.
On my way back to Topsham I was driving through Starcross when this took my eye....

Bar Headed Goose

Not 'tickable' but an interesting sighting all the same.
I arrived at Topsham but the lane was 'chocca' with parked cars so I parked in the road and walked back. I spotted a Mistle Thrush high in a tree and then found a Water Rail, which I was watching when the guys all appeared, coming back from the viewing platform. Having said our 'Happy New Years etc we made our back to the cars pausing to see the Long-Tailed Duck in one of its brief periods above the water. There were also a good number of Avocet's and commoner waders and wildfowl and my day total was now up to 42 species.
We now all made our way back to the Exeter Services to try for the Waxwings. The guys had been here earlier in the day without luck, but this time the birds were just where they should be.

Waxwing

Next it was back to Exminster and a Rose-Coloured Starling that had been in the area for a few days. Again it was a job to park in the narrow lane by the Church and Tim who had arrived before us was nowhere to be seen. We were just walking up towards the Church when I got a call from him to say he was at the Churchyard and there was no sign of the bird. At the same moment a call went up that the Rosy was right above our heads on the telephone wires and relaying the message to Tim we all got great views.

Rose-Coloured Starling

We now moved on to a regular Jan 1 site for Cirl Buntings and were lucky to connect with them as soon as we arrived. We also lucked upon a flock of around twenty Bramblings here as well as the usual Yellowhammers,Chaffinches and Reed Buntings.

Premier Birding

Some of the guys now said goodbye and headed for home and the rest made our way to Dawlish Warren, the second visit of the day for me. The car park was now fit to burst, very different from the couple of cars that were there earlier in the day.
We headed straight for the pool behind the visitor centre to try and connect with the Black-Necked Grebe that has taken up residence. We had to wait for a bit before it revealed itself and it didn't stay in one place for very long.

Black-Necked Grebe

There were reports of an unseasonal Serin in with the Greenfinch flock and we gave it good go but were out of luck on this occasion. A quick sea watch produced a Slavonian Grebe and my day total now was 64.
We started to make our way home but stopped at Cockwood Station car park to pick up Spotted Redshank and Ringed Plover, I also added Red Breasted Merganser having missed them earlier in the day.
I now said my goodbyes to the guys and started for home intending to call in at Axmouth Football Club and see the Bewick Swans that have been there since Boxing Day. I could see them without getting out of the car and also saw Tim and Dave just leaving as they had left Cockwood before me.
I met them again at Coronation Corner where we added Mediterranean Gull and Common Gull. This left me with a day total of 78, quite respectable and my best new year tally for several years.