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.
A drastic and sudden increase in patch Cirl Bunting numbers.... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/cirl... #ukbirding
January 30, 2026 at 7:00 PM
A drastic and sudden increase in patch Cirl Bunting numbers.... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/cirl... #ukbirding
Pleased to say I've had much better views of the Seaton Little Gull during my lunchbreak... #ukbirding
January 25, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Pleased to say I've had much better views of the Seaton Little Gull during my lunchbreak... #ukbirding
All it needed was a bit more effort... Delighted to find an adult Little Gull in the the melee of gulls off Seaton Beach this morning. Couldn't get close to it due to the need of shelter, but hopefully it stays until the rain stops later #ukbirding
January 25, 2026 at 9:30 AM
All it needed was a bit more effort... Delighted to find an adult Little Gull in the the melee of gulls off Seaton Beach this morning. Couldn't get close to it due to the need of shelter, but hopefully it stays until the rain stops later #ukbirding
Despite the excellent numbers of gulls on patch over the last couple of days, and me putting plenty of effort in, I have failed to find any Little Gulls. Highlights have been 2 1w Caspian Gull (today's pictured), a Kittiwake over Axmouth bridge and 44 Med Gulls yesterday #ukbirding
January 24, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Despite the excellent numbers of gulls on patch over the last couple of days, and me putting plenty of effort in, I have failed to find any Little Gulls. Highlights have been 2 1w Caspian Gull (today's pictured), a Kittiwake over Axmouth bridge and 44 Med Gulls yesterday #ukbirding
The Seaton Lesser Whitethroats in detail: stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-... #ukbirding
January 23, 2026 at 9:38 PM
The Seaton Lesser Whitethroats in detail: stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-... #ukbirding
A hint that cold weather is coming? Wouldn't usually expect to see/hear a Golden Plover flying around over Seaton mid-winter.... #ukbirding
January 19, 2026 at 10:47 AM
A hint that cold weather is coming? Wouldn't usually expect to see/hear a Golden Plover flying around over Seaton mid-winter.... #ukbirding
Finally the cold weather has moved wildfowl! This female Goldeneye was on the sea off Seaton for about 20 mins this morning before flying off west. A proper patch rare these days! #ukbirding
January 10, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Finally the cold weather has moved wildfowl! This female Goldeneye was on the sea off Seaton for about 20 mins this morning before flying off west. A proper patch rare these days! #ukbirding
Ten Black-necked Grebes off the Sailing Club near Sandsfoot Castle, Portland Harbour at 12:30 today (2 displaying to each other which was nice!) plus 4 GN Diver @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
January 8, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Ten Black-necked Grebes off the Sailing Club near Sandsfoot Castle, Portland Harbour at 12:30 today (2 displaying to each other which was nice!) plus 4 GN Diver @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
At least two, possibly three presumed blythi Lesser Whitethroats around the Bowling Green at Seaton this morning. Also six Black Redstarts present, including the male (photographed). 13 Barnacle Geese still on the Axe, with a Merlin and Marsh Harrier yesterday #ukbirding
January 2, 2026 at 2:34 PM
At least two, possibly three presumed blythi Lesser Whitethroats around the Bowling Green at Seaton this morning. Also six Black Redstarts present, including the male (photographed). 13 Barnacle Geese still on the Axe, with a Merlin and Marsh Harrier yesterday #ukbirding
Not the grey geese i was hoping for but still a wonderful Christmas treat today on the Axe with these 13 Barnacle Geese. Surely as good as a Barnie could ever get!? Also 5 dark-bellied Brents with them #ukbirding
December 25, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Not the grey geese i was hoping for but still a wonderful Christmas treat today on the Axe with these 13 Barnacle Geese. Surely as good as a Barnie could ever get!? Also 5 dark-bellied Brents with them #ukbirding
A feather perfect 1w Caspian Gull on the Axe Estuary this afternoon, first picked up by Phil #ukbirding
December 5, 2025 at 3:00 PM
A feather perfect 1w Caspian Gull on the Axe Estuary this afternoon, first picked up by Phil #ukbirding
Some more good gulling on The Axe... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/less... #ukbirding
November 28, 2025 at 6:53 AM
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
November 27, 2025 at 9:03 AM
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
So that's what 32 tonnes of Wood Pigeon looks like... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/11/monu... #ukbirding
November 17, 2025 at 9:11 PM
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
November 15, 2025 at 8:26 AM
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
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
November 12, 2025 at 8:07 PM
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
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
Just had my 100th Redwing of the morning over the house. Flocks going in all directions but exhilarating to see! #ukbirding
November 7, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Just had my 100th Redwing of the morning over the house. Flocks going in all directions but exhilarating to see! #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
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
November 6, 2025 at 8:26 AM
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
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