Steve Waite

Indeed. NE seems to be the predominant air flow in spring now going by last three years. This year has been drastically lacking in Atlantic lows too... and rain obviously!

We actually have some southerly winds! It might not be that windy and there's no rain, but 45 mins from Spot On Kiosk (Seaton) this morning gave me: 135 Gannet, 7 Kittiwake, 6 Commom Scoter, 3 Balearic Shearwater, 3 Med Gulls (juvs), 1 Sandwich Tern and 1 Whimbrel #ukbirding

So glad you enjoyed the read and agree with my sentiments :)

Grounded migrants flitting along a coastal fenceline, such a simple thing but gives me such a buzz...

Beer Head highlights from two visits over the past three days: stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/back...

Willow Warbler

Garden Warbler

Plenty of birds up at Beer Head again this morning, but not quite as much variety as I had hoped. Totals: 28 Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, 8 Common Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler and 1 Wheatear. Nice to see the increase in Sylvias #ukbirding

Several Rush Veener and Rusty-dot Pearl's in my trap last night, but Silver Y and Portland Ribbon Wave were the only migrant macros (latter maybe resident though?). Otherwise it was a night for the Prominents, with the four species caught pictured below #teammoth

Beer Head much quieter this morning, with more cloud cover and the wind coming more from the west. Even the Wheatear I saw didn't look like it wanted to be there! Golden Plover present for its third day. 2 Willow Warbler and 5 Whitethroat best in the bushes for me #ukbirding

Make it two then! Middle one did seem to have all dark legs and a flattened abdomen although appreciate not the same intensity of redness

Good to see three Ruddy Darter at Lower Bruckland Ponds, all males of varying maturity. This is now the only site in the Axe Valley for this species, as far as I know, so it's great to see them still hanging on here #dragonflies

1st August and autumn starts for me... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/beer... #ukbirding

Pied Fly

Spot Fly

Lesser Whitethroat

Willow Warbler

Amazing start to August for me with a productive 1.5 hour visit to Beer Head this morning. A proper autumn flurry with singles of Pied and Spotted Fly, Lesser and Common Whitethroat, Wheatear and Sedge Warbler and 22+ Willow Warblers. Absolutely loved it! #autumn #ukbirding

117 macro moths of 42 species last night, which for the first time since I started trapping here did not include a single Hawkmoth. A sign of the mothing year moving on, as was the Canary-shouldered Thorn (pictured). Also a lovely Sallow Kitten. No immigrant macros but 5 Rush Veener #teammoth.

An hour out this morning gave me my first LRP's (two), Goosander (two) and Willow Warbler of the autumn. Read about it all here... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/07/blac... #ukbirding

Rain helps too mate! This is what we've been lacking for waders. Thats why spring was so shockingly poor for wading bird passage

Thankyou overnight rain and south easterlies! This gorgeous pair of Curlew Sandpipers (male and female on size) are on Black Hole Marsh this morning, with 11 Dunlin. My earliest autumn record of the species here. Also Wigeon and juv Med Gull #ukbirding

Disturbed a Silver Y whilst watering the plants tonight, so have just whipped the trap out! #teammoth

Although I'm seeing/hearing them fly over the garden daily at the moment, I was never expecting to ever see Linnet IN the garden. This pair were just on our dying but seed-filled lawn...

Out of the 169 macro moths of 48 species trapped last night, the highlights were the garden's first Mullein Wave, and second records of Crescent Dart and Mocha. All pictured. #teammoth

Another garden butterfly surprise this afternoon with a Wall Brown in our back garden! Blog post with this and the Wood White here: stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/07/gard...

Amazing variation in female Four-spotted Footman, I caught three and two males last night. Also another Blair's Mocha in the 148 macro moths caught #teammate

Might not be much evidence of moth migration during the night at the moment, but I've seen three Hummingbird Hawkmoths today! Including one in the garden :-) #teammoth

This crisp Blair's Mocha was the highlight of the 166 macro moths of 55 species in the garden trap this morning. A single Small Mottled Willow was the only other obvious migrant. Two separate Common Sands over the garden whilst I was out with the trap after dark were a nice garden tick! #teammoth

A another new species for me, and another reed-loving moth in among the 171 macro moths of 50 species that I caught in the garden last night. A pristine Twin-spotted Wainscot #teammoth

There's a Wood White in my bathroom! Seriously! What a house tick....

With so many reported in last few weeks I have stepped up my local Quail-finding efforts. I usually try around dusk, but mixed things up and went for a dawn raid this morning. Same result though... nowt! #ukbirding

What a beast! Roesel's Bush-cricket at work today. Love those green neck stripes!

Moth numbers picked back up for me last night, with 248 macros of 49 species in the trap this morning. This included a couple of fully expected new for garden. Highlight for me was catching a female Four-spotted Footman, pictured here with one of the two males also captured... #teammoth

Delighted to confirm the presence of Norfolk Hawker at Lower Bruckland Ponds for the third consecutive year. This male was patrolling a small territory today, but overlapped with an Emperor's territory resulting in frequent bust-ups. I've never seen a female here but they must surely be breeding?

Amazing to watch a Mandarin fly in from the west, spend about six minutes flying back and forth over Seaton Bay, before finally flying in-off and landing on the Estuary off Coronation Corner. Proving that even dross looks good migrating! #ukbirding

Wood Sands and Crossbills Am pleased to say I have some more bird news!  July hasn't half come around fast, but am glad it's here because it's always the month that y...

Wood Sandpipers and Crossbills on the patch... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/07/wood...