Steve Waite
@axebirder.bsky.social
Patch birder in East Devon around Seaton and the Axe Estuary. Moths, butterflies, dragonflies and blogging are passions for me too. Love spending my weekends exploring our beautiful countryside with my family, Jess and Harry.
Red-necked Grebe showing well.... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/red-... #ukbirding
November 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
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
November 8, 2025 at 10:04 AM
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
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
November 7, 2025 at 7:59 PM
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
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
November 7, 2025 at 12:44 PM
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
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
November 6, 2025 at 8:04 PM
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
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
October 31, 2025 at 4:03 PM
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
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
October 31, 2025 at 10:46 AM
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
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
October 29, 2025 at 3:38 PM
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
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
October 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
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
October 25, 2025 at 9:39 AM
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
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
stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/its-... #ukbirding
October 20, 2025 at 7:40 PM
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
stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/its-... #ukbirding
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
October 19, 2025 at 11:27 AM
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
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
October 18, 2025 at 10:34 AM
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
Bad time of year to be poorly, but I've been house bound for last two days. Still, had my first few Redwing of the winter yesterday morning, and today had Goldcrest and Chiffchaff in the back garden with a Cattle Egret over north #ukbirding
October 15, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Bad time of year to be poorly, but I've been house bound for last two days. Still, had my first few Redwing of the winter yesterday morning, and today had Goldcrest and Chiffchaff in the back garden with a Cattle Egret over north #ukbirding
Have been looking forward to seeing one of these in my moth trap, a nice garden first. Only immigrants were micros with 6 Rusty-dot Pearl, 6 Rush Veneer and an Olive-tree Pearl #teammoth
October 7, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Have been looking forward to seeing one of these in my moth trap, a nice garden first. Only immigrants were micros with 6 Rusty-dot Pearl, 6 Rush Veneer and an Olive-tree Pearl #teammoth
Don't you just hate it when a crappy record shot of distant migrating Grey Herons is ruined by a photobombing Bluefin Tuna!
A great day on patch, full details here: stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/whoo... #ukbirding
A great day on patch, full details here: stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/whoo... #ukbirding
October 6, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Don't you just hate it when a crappy record shot of distant migrating Grey Herons is ruined by a photobombing Bluefin Tuna!
A great day on patch, full details here: stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/whoo... #ukbirding
A great day on patch, full details here: stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/whoo... #ukbirding
Having earlier flown past West Bexington (per Mike Morse) there are six Whooper Swans currently on Colyford Marsh #ukbirding
October 6, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Having earlier flown past West Bexington (per Mike Morse) there are six Whooper Swans currently on Colyford Marsh #ukbirding
This Caspian Gull is so big I think it's struggling to even get up! An absolute corker and is currently showing well on the lower Axe Estuary #ukbirding
October 5, 2025 at 2:43 PM
This Caspian Gull is so big I think it's struggling to even get up! An absolute corker and is currently showing well on the lower Axe Estuary #ukbirding
My favourite variety of Caspian Gull on the Axe just now... the monster first-winter variety! Certainly different to any of yesterday's birds #ukbirding
October 4, 2025 at 3:52 PM
My favourite variety of Caspian Gull on the Axe just now... the monster first-winter variety! Certainly different to any of yesterday's birds #ukbirding
Bit of wind has brought the gulls in again. 2 Caspian and 3 Yellow-legged Gull (ad and two 2nd/3rd winters) on the Axe Estuary this afternoon #ukbirding
October 3, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Bit of wind has brought the gulls in again. 2 Caspian and 3 Yellow-legged Gull (ad and two 2nd/3rd winters) on the Axe Estuary this afternoon #ukbirding
With little wind and temps in double figures all night I put the trap out last night. A couple of expected NFG with the season change, but was surprised to see a few migrants still about with 8 Rusty-dot Pearl and singles of Rush Veener and White-point (latter new for garden) #teammoth
October 2, 2025 at 6:17 PM
With little wind and temps in double figures all night I put the trap out last night. A couple of expected NFG with the season change, but was surprised to see a few migrants still about with 8 Rusty-dot Pearl and singles of Rush Veener and White-point (latter new for garden) #teammoth
Beer Head was very birdy again this morning, and very hard to leave. Mipits and Chiffs made up the bulk, but good to see singles of Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat #ukbirding
September 30, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Beer Head was very birdy again this morning, and very hard to leave. Mipits and Chiffs made up the bulk, but good to see singles of Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat #ukbirding
Contrary to popular belief I don't think all Wheatears are that approachable. I actually find the birds that arrive in early spring and the first wave in autumn to be quite nervy. However these brutes coming through now are a different breed - a true photographers dream and I love 'em! #ukbirding
September 29, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Contrary to popular belief I don't think all Wheatears are that approachable. I actually find the birds that arrive in early spring and the first wave in autumn to be quite nervy. However these brutes coming through now are a different breed - a true photographers dream and I love 'em! #ukbirding
Not much wind today so vismig mostly high and birds flying in all directions. Highlight for me were 2 Mistle Thrush west, but also good to see an increase in Skylark numbers. Plenty of Chiffs grounded again and a few more crests including 2 Firecrest #ukbirding
September 29, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Not much wind today so vismig mostly high and birds flying in all directions. Highlight for me were 2 Mistle Thrush west, but also good to see an increase in Skylark numbers. Plenty of Chiffs grounded again and a few more crests including 2 Firecrest #ukbirding
Went up to Axe Cliff with click counters and my sound recorder this morning but overhead passage very slow. However there had been an amazing fall of Chiffchaffs and chats, including 12 Stonechat, 3 Wheatear, 2 Redstart and a Whinchat. Also Golden Plover #ukbirding
September 28, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Went up to Axe Cliff with click counters and my sound recorder this morning but overhead passage very slow. However there had been an amazing fall of Chiffchaffs and chats, including 12 Stonechat, 3 Wheatear, 2 Redstart and a Whinchat. Also Golden Plover #ukbirding