Gavin Haig
@notquitescilly.bsky.social
Mainly birds, moths, other nat. hist.
Mainly W Dorset & E Devon, UK
https://notquitescilly2.blogspot.com
Mainly W Dorset & E Devon, UK
https://notquitescilly2.blogspot.com
Wetter and windier this afternoon, and yet another 1w Caspian Gull on the Axe Estuary. Doesn't match any previous first-winters that I've managed reasonable photos of.
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
December 1, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Wetter and windier this afternoon, and yet another 1w Caspian Gull on the Axe Estuary. Doesn't match any previous first-winters that I've managed reasonable photos of.
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
A nice, hefty 1w Caspian Gull on the Axe Estuary this morning. Unfortunately its half of the flock flew the moment I got the camera out, so just these slightly out-of-focus flight shots to record the happy event. My 10th Axe Casp in exactly 6 weeks. My first 10 took from 2007-2018!!
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
December 1, 2025 at 11:34 AM
A nice, hefty 1w Caspian Gull on the Axe Estuary this morning. Unfortunately its half of the flock flew the moment I got the camera out, so just these slightly out-of-focus flight shots to record the happy event. My 10th Axe Casp in exactly 6 weeks. My first 10 took from 2007-2018!!
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
Hard to imagine a finer way to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon than loitering around the sewage works. Yesterday's Sibe Chiff (presumably) gave me one chance at a photo, and a bonus Firecrest added a dash of dazzle. 😎
Colyton WTW
#DevonBirds
Colyton WTW
#DevonBirds
November 29, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Hard to imagine a finer way to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon than loitering around the sewage works. Yesterday's Sibe Chiff (presumably) gave me one chance at a photo, and a bonus Firecrest added a dash of dazzle. 😎
Colyton WTW
#DevonBirds
Colyton WTW
#DevonBirds
Sibe Chiff at Colyton WTW late this afternoon, one of probably two with decent numbers of collybita. Made a change from gulls.
One of these shots taken at 3200 ISO, which is a bit of a stretch for the Nikon P950.
#DevonBirds
One of these shots taken at 3200 ISO, which is a bit of a stretch for the Nikon P950.
#DevonBirds
November 28, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Sibe Chiff at Colyton WTW late this afternoon, one of probably two with decent numbers of collybita. Made a change from gulls.
One of these shots taken at 3200 ISO, which is a bit of a stretch for the Nikon P950.
#DevonBirds
One of these shots taken at 3200 ISO, which is a bit of a stretch for the Nikon P950.
#DevonBirds
Niche birds...
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
Niche Birds
Yesterday morning Clive found two Lesser Whitethroats by Seaton Bowls Club. Any Lesser Whitethroat in late November is probably going...
notquitescilly2.blogspot.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Niche birds...
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
Ten Years in West Dorset is less a blog post, more a chapter in my life. Hopefully an inspiration for those who prefer the paths less trodden. Bit of an epic, so well done if you get through it all.
#DorsetBirds
#DorsetBirds
Ten Years in West Dorset
This mega-post has been in prep for a while. Essentially it is a potted summary of ten years birdwatching in West Dorset, between 2015 ...
notquitescilly2.blogspot.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Ten Years in West Dorset is less a blog post, more a chapter in my life. Hopefully an inspiration for those who prefer the paths less trodden. Bit of an epic, so well done if you get through it all.
#DorsetBirds
#DorsetBirds
Awkward lunchtime gulling on the Axe with @axebirder.bsky.social, but 3 Caspian Gulls to show for it. Despite wind, torrential rain and inconveniantly distant birds, managed to maintain record of getting photo of every Casp I've ever seen...however awful!
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
November 22, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Awkward lunchtime gulling on the Axe with @axebirder.bsky.social, but 3 Caspian Gulls to show for it. Despite wind, torrential rain and inconveniantly distant birds, managed to maintain record of getting photo of every Casp I've ever seen...however awful!
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
A bit of moth jam...
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
Ooh, You Little Beauty...
The trap is out again tonight. This surprises me. I really had no intention of trapping until next year. Apart from practical difficul...
notquitescilly2.blogspot.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:54 PM
A bit of moth jam...
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
In other news...
While a rare moth was heading for the trap back home, Gong were at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis.
So was I.
Ozric Tentacles in December.
My cup runneth over. 😎
While a rare moth was heading for the trap back home, Gong were at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis.
So was I.
Ozric Tentacles in December.
My cup runneth over. 😎
November 15, 2025 at 8:56 AM
In other news...
While a rare moth was heading for the trap back home, Gong were at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis.
So was I.
Ozric Tentacles in December.
My cup runneth over. 😎
While a rare moth was heading for the trap back home, Gong were at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis.
So was I.
Ozric Tentacles in December.
My cup runneth over. 😎
Just two moths actually in the trap this morning, a Rusty-dot Pearl and this beauty. Banded Sable was not on my shortlist of candidates for number 24 on the new garden list! As far as I can make out, less than 20 Devon records.
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
November 15, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Just two moths actually in the trap this morning, a Rusty-dot Pearl and this beauty. Banded Sable was not on my shortlist of candidates for number 24 on the new garden list! As far as I can make out, less than 20 Devon records.
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
The actinic porch light scored nicely last night, pulling in this lovely little Vestal to shelter from the rain. 😎
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
November 14, 2025 at 8:35 AM
The actinic porch light scored nicely last night, pulling in this lovely little Vestal to shelter from the rain. 😎
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
A lunchtime check of the Axe Estuary gulls turned up a hefty 1w Caspian Gull. Half an hour later a 2w dropped in. First time I've had two at once here. Or anywhere! 😎
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
November 9, 2025 at 4:48 PM
A lunchtime check of the Axe Estuary gulls turned up a hefty 1w Caspian Gull. Half an hour later a 2w dropped in. First time I've had two at once here. Or anywhere! 😎
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
Completing the set...
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
A Full Set of Blair's
Back in June 2022 I fired up a moth trap for the very first time. It was an experiment really. A little dabble... I had no idea. P...
notquitescilly2.blogspot.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Completing the set...
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
Pick of the trap migrant-wise, this Olive-tree Pearl accompanied by Vestal and Rusty-dot Pearl. But in some ways best of the 9/8 was Blair's Shoulder-knot on house wall, a new moth for me.
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
November 6, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Pick of the trap migrant-wise, this Olive-tree Pearl accompanied by Vestal and Rusty-dot Pearl. But in some ways best of the 9/8 was Blair's Shoulder-knot on house wall, a new moth for me.
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
Quick check inside the trap revealed this peering at me. Olive-tree Pearl? Would be a nice bit of quality for the new garden. Only ever caught a couple in Bridport.
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
November 5, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Quick check inside the trap revealed this peering at me. Olive-tree Pearl? Would be a nice bit of quality for the new garden. Only ever caught a couple in Bridport.
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
Axminster VC3
#TeamMoth
Very distant, awful light, etc... but this Cirl Bunting on clifftop brambles was highlight of the morning at Axe Cliff, Seaton. Nothing of particular note vis-mig wise, but some nice Woodpigeon flocks coasting.
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
November 2, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Very distant, awful light, etc... but this Cirl Bunting on clifftop brambles was highlight of the morning at Axe Cliff, Seaton. Nothing of particular note vis-mig wise, but some nice Woodpigeon flocks coasting.
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
Prior to my final outing as guide on Seaton Birdwatching Tram, a quick look at R Axe produced this 1w Caspian Gull, yet another in ridiculous series of records this year. Think this takes us to c31 in 2025 (mostly c/o @axebirder.bsky.social) compared with 38 birds in preceding 18 yrs!
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
November 1, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Prior to my final outing as guide on Seaton Birdwatching Tram, a quick look at R Axe produced this 1w Caspian Gull, yet another in ridiculous series of records this year. Think this takes us to c31 in 2025 (mostly c/o @axebirder.bsky.social) compared with 38 birds in preceding 18 yrs!
#DevonBirds
#DevonBirds
No trap tonight so but just popped out to find this lovely fresh Merveille du Jour on the wall next to the porch light. Sticking a 20W actinic bulb in it was so worth the modest investment! 😄
Axminster, Devon
#TeamMoth
Axminster, Devon
#TeamMoth
October 29, 2025 at 11:12 PM
No trap tonight so but just popped out to find this lovely fresh Merveille du Jour on the wall next to the porch light. Sticking a 20W actinic bulb in it was so worth the modest investment! 😄
Axminster, Devon
#TeamMoth
Axminster, Devon
#TeamMoth
I've only once been to Spurn, so don't know it, but this just popped up on my YouTube feed and might be of interest to regulars. I noticed the postman is wearing bins... 😁
youtu.be/CULUs8IfIxc?...
youtu.be/CULUs8IfIxc?...
1962: The People Who Live on Spurn Point | Tonight | Voice of the People | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
youtu.be
October 29, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I've only once been to Spurn, so don't know it, but this just popped up on my YouTube feed and might be of interest to regulars. I noticed the postman is wearing bins... 😁
youtu.be/CULUs8IfIxc?...
youtu.be/CULUs8IfIxc?...
Trap's first outing in Axminster produces just 8 moths, but one was this Green-brindled Crescent - dusted with green glitter, an absolute belter and one of my all-time favourite moths - and one a Merveille du Jour. In three Bridport autumns caught just 4 and 2 respectively.
A good start then. 😎
A good start then. 😎
October 29, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Trap's first outing in Axminster produces just 8 moths, but one was this Green-brindled Crescent - dusted with green glitter, an absolute belter and one of my all-time favourite moths - and one a Merveille du Jour. In three Bridport autumns caught just 4 and 2 respectively.
A good start then. 😎
A good start then. 😎