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.
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
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
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
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...
stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:13 PM
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
October 27, 2025 at 7:39 AM
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
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
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
October 22, 2025 at 10:55 AM
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
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
Female BLACK-FACED BUNTING at middle camp, south of the breach.
Please stick to the road so not to flush the bird
#Spurnbirds
@rarebirder.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
Please stick to the road so not to flush the bird
#Spurnbirds
@rarebirder.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 10:32 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
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