Please pass on my best wishes and regards to David.

Whilst waiting for the Starlings to fly today to the Litton roost on Exmoor with David Ballance we spotted a male Hen Harrier along the Devon/Somerset border about 3 pm which was seen on and off for about 10 minutes. Hen Harriers winter or are seen on Exmoor every winter but usually in very small numbers of 1 to 4 birds, mainly between October and March, but occasionally birds are seen in September or April. They tend to range fairly widely over the whole of Exmoor.

About 12,000 Starlings flew in to roost which is about average. Allcombe Water holds the largest Starling roost on Exmoor and the highest regular Somerset roost away from the Levels. I have counted up to 130,000 birds coming to roost but it is difficult to estimate precise numbers.