Exminster Marshes was pretty quiet apart from an explosive Cetti's Warbler which flew across the path in front of me (close to the canal car park). My first Willow Warbler of the year was singing over on the RSPB side.
It was possibly not the ideal time to go for them but I opted for a late morning drive over to Paignton and hopefully Cirl Buntings at Broadsands bay, where the beach huts were painting a pretty picture!
The fields and hedgerows around the overflow car park have a good number of Cirl's...
.....and if you like them perched on branches, I managed a couple of males
Hard work though and eventually I opted for the easy life, sat down by a beach hut and small flock which had come in for a lunchtime feed :-)
It was a pretty even mix of males and females, a few images of the ladies here.......
Flashing off their grey-brown streaky rumps!
But I was now going to be totally distracted by some really well marked males, edging towards me :-)
Just a few images, I had some 300 to sort through!!
Some relatively pale marked males...
Through to brilliantly coloured....
And as they came closer - a bit of feather detail!
That wonderful combination of great (confiding) birds and awesome light!
I'd long since taken my converter off :-)
I'll spare you too many - here's an arty angle for a change!
Just simply stunning birds......
It was then back to the Topsham to see if the tide was going to produce something?
