Mike Ixer
@mikeixer.bsky.social
Wildlife watcher and photographer now based in East Devon. Mainly birds but a bit of everything, with a few landscapes thrown in for good measure.
First time properly exploring the Lower Otter Restoration Project at Buddleigh Salterton and it was fantastic! The current ‘star’ - slavonian grebe - was distant for photos but resplendent in glorious sunshine. The spotted redshank showed well. #Birds #DevonBirds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife
January 4, 2026 at 9:55 PM
First time properly exploring the Lower Otter Restoration Project at Buddleigh Salterton and it was fantastic! The current ‘star’ - slavonian grebe - was distant for photos but resplendent in glorious sunshine. The spotted redshank showed well. #Birds #DevonBirds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife
Just read your blog about your wander around. There were two water rails and a cettis down the footpath behind the football club recently - not sure if you ventured that way.
January 3, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Just read your blog about your wander around. There were two water rails and a cettis down the footpath behind the football club recently - not sure if you ventured that way.
It must have been you I saw walking along the river while I was down there playing with ice with my son. There are some nice paths around Axminster. Where was the green sand?
January 3, 2026 at 5:56 PM
It must have been you I saw walking along the river while I was down there playing with ice with my son. There are some nice paths around Axminster. Where was the green sand?
I like this one a lot!
December 27, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I like this one a lot!
Today’s Christmas Eve offering is the Bohemian waxwing. An unusual winter visitor to the UK in Winter except every now and then during ‘eruption’ years when continental food sources fail. A photographers’ favourite with its ‘wax-tipped’ wing tips. #Birds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife #Waxwing
December 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Today’s Christmas Eve offering is the Bohemian waxwing. An unusual winter visitor to the UK in Winter except every now and then during ‘eruption’ years when continental food sources fail. A photographers’ favourite with its ‘wax-tipped’ wing tips. #Birds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife #Waxwing
It’s European, but I don’t know how far South in Europe it extends or how far East towards Asia it extends.
December 24, 2025 at 8:02 PM
It’s European, but I don’t know how far South in Europe it extends or how far East towards Asia it extends.
This is exactly what I mean - there are some great names for birds around the world! I wonder why snow fairy though, do they migrate to Spain in Winter?
December 24, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This is exactly what I mean - there are some great names for birds around the world! I wonder why snow fairy though, do they migrate to Spain in Winter?
As far as I’m aware, not a plover. The body is plover-like but in my experience, the plover family would have shorter bills. I think oystercatchers are a family unto themselves with different species around the world. All classed as wading birds.
December 23, 2025 at 8:44 PM
As far as I’m aware, not a plover. The body is plover-like but in my experience, the plover family would have shorter bills. I think oystercatchers are a family unto themselves with different species around the world. All classed as wading birds.
I found the comments on the last post about bird names in other languages fascinating! Today pictures of long-tailed tits - there must be some good names for these little, charismatic, unstoppable, insect-guzzling miniature forces of nature! #Birds #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography
December 23, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I found the comments on the last post about bird names in other languages fascinating! Today pictures of long-tailed tits - there must be some good names for these little, charismatic, unstoppable, insect-guzzling miniature forces of nature! #Birds #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography
I’ll bear that in mind
December 23, 2025 at 8:23 AM
I’ll bear that in mind
Let’s see if I can continue my recent hot streak with today’s bird of the day. A few photos of various Eurasian oystercatchers (haematopus ostralegus) from over the years. As my good friend calls them, “Magpies with carrots on their face”. #Birds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife #Oystercatcher
December 22, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Let’s see if I can continue my recent hot streak with today’s bird of the day. A few photos of various Eurasian oystercatchers (haematopus ostralegus) from over the years. As my good friend calls them, “Magpies with carrots on their face”. #Birds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife #Oystercatcher
I think what you have here is a secretary bird native to the African continent.
December 22, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I think what you have here is a secretary bird native to the African continent.
I’ll see if I can continue my recent good luck with post popularity and give the people what they apparently want. Here’s a couple of photos of a very confiding Eurasian nuthatch (Sitta europaea) from a little while back. #birds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife
December 21, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I’ll see if I can continue my recent good luck with post popularity and give the people what they apparently want. Here’s a couple of photos of a very confiding Eurasian nuthatch (Sitta europaea) from a little while back. #birds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife
Thank you. Reported it. We’ll see if that comes to anything.
December 21, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Thank you. Reported it. We’ll see if that comes to anything.
Thank you for letting me know. I’ve reported it - not that I imagine much will come of it. They didn’t even remove the watermarks on the photos 😂
December 21, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Thank you for letting me know. I’ve reported it - not that I imagine much will come of it. They didn’t even remove the watermarks on the photos 😂
Hi, this is my post that you’ve copied - the photos even have my name in the corner 😂
December 21, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Hi, this is my post that you’ve copied - the photos even have my name in the corner 😂
Thanks for letting me know.
December 21, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Thanks for letting me know.
I have a Nikon D7500 with a Tamron 150mm-600mm lens. As long as there is a decent amount of light, it does a good job 😊
December 20, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I have a Nikon D7500 with a Tamron 150mm-600mm lens. As long as there is a decent amount of light, it does a good job 😊
I don’t understand what happened with my last post but I don’t believe I’ve ever had so many likes and reposts of anything in my life. Anyway, to continue the love for the birds in the local area, here are four beauties seen around the Seaton area this year. #Birds #DevonBirds #WildlifePhotography
December 20, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I don’t understand what happened with my last post but I don’t believe I’ve ever had so many likes and reposts of anything in my life. Anyway, to continue the love for the birds in the local area, here are four beauties seen around the Seaton area this year. #Birds #DevonBirds #WildlifePhotography
Still seems like a novelty to do something for myself during lunch break having switched jobs a while ago. Today I took advantage of some black redstarts that have been hanging around behind work in Seaton. What a treat! #DevonBirds #Birds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife #BlackRedstart
December 19, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Still seems like a novelty to do something for myself during lunch break having switched jobs a while ago. Today I took advantage of some black redstarts that have been hanging around behind work in Seaton. What a treat! #DevonBirds #Birds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife #BlackRedstart
Managed very distant views of the lesser crested tern on the Exe Estuary yesterday afternoon. Gambled on Starcross for a first attempt and saw it distantly flying around and heading towards Dawlish. Headed to Dawlish but it decided to sit near Cockwood so still only very distant views.
December 7, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Managed very distant views of the lesser crested tern on the Exe Estuary yesterday afternoon. Gambled on Starcross for a first attempt and saw it distantly flying around and heading towards Dawlish. Headed to Dawlish but it decided to sit near Cockwood so still only very distant views.
A cross-border bit of exploring into West Dorset this morning was very worthwhile. I had hoped for cirl bunting and yellowhammer, but a lightning-fast merlin and a firecrest on the way back to the car were huge bonuses! #DorsetBirds #Birds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife
November 30, 2025 at 9:54 PM
A cross-border bit of exploring into West Dorset this morning was very worthwhile. I had hoped for cirl bunting and yellowhammer, but a lightning-fast merlin and a firecrest on the way back to the car were huge bonuses! #DorsetBirds #Birds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife
Unexpected couple of year ticks during a brief lunch break explore in Seaton. Heard about a lesser whitethroat and black redstart and connected with both very quickly. Didn’t expect lesser whitethroat in late November! #Birds #DevonBirds
November 26, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Unexpected couple of year ticks during a brief lunch break explore in Seaton. Heard about a lesser whitethroat and black redstart and connected with both very quickly. Didn’t expect lesser whitethroat in late November! #Birds #DevonBirds
Very enjoyable first @harbourbirds.bsky.social cruise around Poole Harbour this morning. White-tailed eagles, glossy ibises, a bittern and a red-throated diver contributed to what I think was 52 species seen. Chuffed to pick out a little gull as well. #Birds #DorsetBirds #WildlifePhotography
November 16, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Very enjoyable first @harbourbirds.bsky.social cruise around Poole Harbour this morning. White-tailed eagles, glossy ibises, a bittern and a red-throated diver contributed to what I think was 52 species seen. Chuffed to pick out a little gull as well. #Birds #DorsetBirds #WildlifePhotography
Pleasant if very busy trip to the National Trust at Stourhead. Very picturesque in autumn! #Autumn #Fall #NationalTrust #Stourhead
November 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Pleasant if very busy trip to the National Trust at Stourhead. Very picturesque in autumn! #Autumn #Fall #NationalTrust #Stourhead