Steve Waite

A feather perfect 1w Caspian Gull on the Axe Estuary this afternoon, first picked up by Phil #ukbirding

Hi Andy, thanks for that. Two places really. I prefer the road that runs alongside the Estuary between Seaton and Axmouth, as you can stop wherever there are gulls. However when there are lots of gulls on the very upper estuary where it goes around the corner, Tower Hide at Black Hole Marsh best

Some more good gulling on The Axe... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/less... #ukbirding

Nice to have good views of one of two Lesser Whitethroat first found in Seaton yesterday by Clive. Quietly singing too so clearly a male! Heard it give a bit of a rattle call but it doesnt look that small so presumably a blythi? Lovely bird and showing well near the Bowling Club #ukbirding

Thanks Nick. Yes yellow red yellow is an Axe bird. Will pass this on and log it as a resighting. Many thanks

So that's what 32 tonnes of Wood Pigeon looks like... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/monu... #ukbirding

Three Blackcap in my garden this morning (2 male, 1 fem). They've not found the fat balls yet but it's good to see them back! #ukbirding

You've certainly got more chance than me where you are! Good luck :-)

It might be mild enough for me to get this out (and it really has to be mild for me to do that this late in the autumn!) but there are loads a Redwing and a few Song Thrush going over #ukbirding

Absolutely, thats why I hope it is the same bird :)

This bird looks to have a bit more yellow on the beak to me, although that's comparing an in-hand shot with a distant in-field shot so I wouldn't swear to it. However based on how scarce they are in E Devon the chances are it is the same bird. There certainly isn't one the Axe Estuary any more!

Red-necked Grebe showing well.... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/red-... #ukbirding

As expected a massive Pigeon morning up Axe Cliff, in the mostly clear blue skies. Vismig oddities included 4 Pintail (south), 1 Golden Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Swallow, 8 Redpoll and 3 Brambling. Cirl Bunting and 5 Chiffchaff the best on the ground #ukbirding

Caspian Gull

Another Caspian Gull, good numbers of wildfowl and Cattle Egret, my first three-figure count of Redwing this autumn, bushes alive with Chiffs and Goldcrests and a garden Black Redstart. So not a bad day really... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-go... #ukbirding

Tufted Duck

Cattle Egrets

Spent an hour in the valley this morning hoping to scan the skies for a late swift. However the number of birds in the valley made it hard to look up, with a drake Tufted Duck, 3 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, 18 Cattle Egret and 275 Teal on Bridge/Colyford Marsh. Black Red in the garden too #ukbirding

Just had my 100th Redwing of the morning over the house. Flocks going in all directions but exhilarating to see! #ukbirding

Black Redstart

An arrival of Black Redstarts on patch today, but am sure with more time I would have found so much more... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-fr... #ukbirding

It might be cloudy but there's lots on the move in the still conditions. Best Redwing day of the autumn so far (following on from their best night) and have added Brambling to the house list with two over together. This is the sort of day I could so easily spend all day out in! #ukbirding

Caspian Gull

Caspian Gull

Presumably the bird that got away from me this morning. Nice 2w Caspian Gull on the Axe Estuary this afternoon, also a 1w Yellow-legged Gull #ukbirding

First-winter Caspian Gull

Little Gull

1w Caspian and adult Little Gull on Axe Estuary this morning, also a possible (and very brief) 2w Caspian, 8 Med Gulls and 8 Cattle Egret #ukbirding

Firecrest

Black Redstart

Had a good look about this morning hoping the calm weather would reveal some surprises, but it didn't. Several Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests, a single Firecrest and 2 Black Redstarts from the house (thanks Tim) and at Black Hole Marsh 4 Dunlin, a Greenshank and 5 Crossbill over west #ukbirding

Male Hen Harrier Wow what a roller coaster of a day!  Started with excitement, then shock and elation, almost immediately followed by despair, then a few hou...

My first patch Hen Harrier for ten years - and my first ever grey male! Also, absolutely blown away by the kindness shown from fellow patch birders... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/male... #ukbirding

Gorgeous near adult male Hen Harrier just floated past me at Axe Cliff, heading north west low over the same field I was stood in at 07:15. Bit of a shock - and worth losing my clickers over! #ukbirding

Couldn't get out this morning, but from the garden 8,500 Wood Pigeons, 100 Stock Dove, 46 Jackdaw, 45 Siskin, 8 Crossbill (one flock) and a Reed Bunting flew west. Really productive lazy/casual birding! Also managed a shave, shower and breakfast! Had good company too #ukbirding

Amazing morning at Axe Cliff! Not totted up numbers yet but lots of birds with highlights of Woodlark west at 09:08, a Short-eared Owl hunting then N at 08:40, Marsh Harrier N at 08:15, also 11 Crossbill and Brambling west #ukbirding

Had an hour vismigging at Axe Cliff this morning, in near-perfect conditions. My first Brambling of autumn over, plus 1 Grey Wag, 4 Song Thrush, 4 Redpoll, 5 Reed Bunting, 11 alba Wagtail, 11 Starling, 17 Siskin, 18 Jackdaw, 22 Goldfinch, 48 Linnet, 53 Skylark, 87 Mipit and 292 Chaffinch #ukbirding

Am struggling to keep up with the current Caspian Gull influx on the Axe, but here's my best attempt. Personally I have seen 22 birds this year. A record count of Med Gulls too...
stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/its-... #ukbirding

#justicefordaveboyle #spurnssecond

Some Axe new high counts today with 4 Caspian Gulls (3 1w, 1 2w), plus a possible older bird, and 110 Med Gulls on the Axe Estuary. There's 150 Meds in the area at least as there was another 40 over the sea whilst the 110 were on the Estuary! Pic of 4 Caspians below #ukbirding

Flame Brocade

Clancy's Rustic

Pearly Underwing

Trio of Merveille du Jour

Thrilled to see my first Flame Brocade in my garden moth trap last night - what a stunning moth! Also singles of Clancy's Rustic, Pearly Underwing and Blair's Mocha, 7 Rusty-dot Pearl and 10 White-point. 3 Merveille du Jour the best of the resident species #teammoth