The first trip of 2014 did not disappoint. Firstly we had a 3 hour window when the sun shone, the wind was virtually nil at times with the river flat calm like a millpond. Ok it was a bit cold but the birds made up for it. Highlights were over 300 Avocet, those on the Lynher were very close and brilliantly lit by the low sun and 2 Kingfisher, both of which sat in the open for all to see whilst the boat drifted slowly by. We have been running these trips since 2006 and surprisingly perhaps, have  seen Kingfisher on only two previous occasions. Maybe with all the rain we’ve had they have abandoned fast flowing upstream localities for the slower lower reaches of the rivers. There were good numbers of Shelduck, Teal,  Curlew and  Heron and Little Egret but Wigeon and Black tailed Godwit were well down on Decembers totals. The 3 Spoonbill were distant on this occasion, one welll upstream on the Lynher towards Sconner and the other two flew across the Tamar to Ernesettle Creek, again too distant to see clearly. Thanks to Tony Jones for the photos and Derek Julian for the comprehensive species list.