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Steve Waite

@axebirder.bsky.social
645 followers 233 following 441 posts

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.

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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 3h
Two 1st winter Caspian Gulls on the Axe Estuary in the last couple of hours, including a yellow colour-ringed bird.
Caspian GullCaspian Gull
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
This Great White Egret livened up this mornings Birdwatching Tram. Flew north up the Axe Valley at 10:12.
Great White EgretGreat White Egret
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Adult (or near adult) Yellow-legged Gull on Axe Estuary just now. A nice hefty beast.
Yellow-legged Gull
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Wonderful waders, wagtails, Ospreys and a Wryneck... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/back...
Spotted Redshank
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Thanks for the comment Dave. Yes I was certain it would cruise past Berry, especially after the Dawlish sighting. Alpine Swift is a corking bird though, bet that was a thrill!
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Ah thanks for that, a lovely comment and am glad you enjoyed it. Yes you can be sure of no pin sharp photos on my blog! Haha :-)
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
My 4th Cory's Shearwater for the patch; full details (including a hurried video) here: stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/seaw...
Cory's Shearwater passing Seaton
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Gulls of the Axe; Autumm '26. The blog post you've all been longing for... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/gull...
Caspian GullYellow-legged Gull
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
*meant Island Hide! What a fail
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The Tower Hide at Black Hole Marsh must be one of the best photography site in UK for waders during autumn. I'm not even a photographer but with Spotted Redshank and Ruff down to 10m from the hide even I couldn't go wrong! Curlew Sand, 3 Spot Red and 6 Ruff present this morning
Spotted RedshankRuff
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Half an hour seawatch off Seaton from 7am produced 11 Balearic Shearwaters, 4 Kittiwake and 2 Commom Scoter west, plus a Hobby that flew out to sea but five mins later flew back in/off again!
Balearic ShearwatersHobby
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Purple Heron looking the business on Black Hole Marsh back in July... Thank you Clive! stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/purp...
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
If it wasn't for the Phalarope this would have been my bird of the autumn... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/ston...
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Bird number 271 on my Axe patch list, the fantastic Red-necked Phalarope from August... stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/red-...
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
That would be more expected for sure, but no its a Common
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Wasn't expecting this through the front window this morning as I was eating my toast. Common Whitethroat - a surprising garden tick!
Common Whitethroat
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
A taste of proper autumn this morning at Axe Cliff with vismig consisting of Mipits, Yellow, Grey & alba Wagtails and 2 Tree Pipits. Grounded migrants present included Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 3 Whitethroat and numerous Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps plus a few more Yellow Wags.
WhinchatWhinchat and Wheatear
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Black Hole Marsh looking fantastic this evening. The fresh as-they-come juv Pec Sand showing really close to Island Hide, also two Spotted Reds and singles of Ruff, Wood Sand, Curlew Sand and LRP. Also singles of Hobby and Osprey over. #ukbirding
Pectoral SandpiperWood SandpiperCurlew SandpiperLittle Ringed Plover
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Haha thanks for joining us Gav, great to see you both
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
110+ Yellow Wagtails roosted on Black Hole Marsh this evening. Also Spotted Redshank and Curlew Sandpiper still
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Nice! Love the bleached line it has along its primaries
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Two Caspian Gulls on the Axe Estuary side by side this afternoon! Yesterdays juv/1w with a new 1s
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Wasnt expecting that for a speculative mid morning seawatch! Cory's Shearwater west past Seaton 10:08-10:12. Also few Balearics and an Arctic Skua.
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
The 'smoothest' juv Caspian Gull I've ever seen on the Axe just now. What a soft and silky beauty. Also 2 1w YLG, 3 Wigeon and off Seaton Beach 10+ Balearic Shearwater
Caspian GullCaspian Gull
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Honestly i do anything to avoid it. Subtle tones of grey show up infinitely better under cloudy skies and sunny gulling is such hard work! Still yes, worth it today
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Despite my dislike of gulling in the sun, the blustery wind convinced me to take a look. Glad i did. On the Axe two juv Casps (one a little more advanced than the other) and three 1w Yellow-legged Gull. Osprey flushed most gulls 4.45pm but both Casps remained #ukbirding
Caspian Gull 1 (left)Caspian Gull 1Caspian Gull 2 (more advanced)
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Didnt get round to posting this yesterday, but noticed a large yet quiet gull flush on the lower Axe Estuary mid pm yesterday. Went out, looked up and saw a Peregrine mobbing something and thought I'd found the source of the flush... until I realised it was mobbing an Osprey! First juv of the year
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Still a few migrants about, with several Rush Veneer, Rusty-dot Pearl and Small Mottled Willows in my trap last night along with singles of European Corn-borer, Dark Sword Grass, Scarce Bordered Straw, Turnip Moth and Silver Y #teammoth
Turnip MothScarce Bordered Straw
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Youve done pretty well over the years 7 miles inland mate!
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Beer Head was a bit too blown out this morning, however there were birds although most seemed to be moving through rapidly. In 2.5 hours: 1 Pied Fly, 1 Spot Fly, 1 Yellow Wag, 2 Wheatear, 4 Whitethroat and 30+ Willow Warbler
Pied FlycatcherPied FlycatcherSpotted FlycatcherWillow Warbler
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Scarce Bordered Straw :)
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Far fewer migrants in the trap last night, no doubt due to the blustery NW wind that picked up at dusk yesterday. However a new moth for me (and the garden of course!) with this cracking Dark-bordered Pearl. Also a single Vestal #teammoth
Dark-bordered PearlVestal
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
A great night for migrant moths in the garden, only thing missing was the cherry on top! My totals were: 23 Small Mottled Willow, 19 Rush Veneer, 18 Rusty-dot Pearl, 9 Portland Ribbon Wave, 4 Dark Sword Grass, 4 European Corn-borer and singles of Bordered Straw and Scarce Bordered Straw #teammoth
Bordered StrawScarce Bordered StrawDark Sword Grass
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Anyone who owns a moth trap and hasn't got it out. Go put it out. So many moths coming in right now #teammoth
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Felt colder than I expected at dawn, but still a light splattering of migrants in the trap. Best being two Small Marbled and a Turnip Moth #TeamMoth
Small MarbledTurnip Moth
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Singles of Dark Sword Grass and Scarce Bordered Straw in the garden trap last night, with a modest number of the usual migrant species like Small Mottled Willow, Silver Y, Rush Veneer, Rusty-dot Pearl, Olive-tree Pearl, European Corn-borer, etc. Hopefully a sign of things to come? #teammoth
Dark Sword GrassScarce Bordered Straw
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Beer Head was quiet this morning considering the date and conditions, but persistance paid off with this lovely male Redstart. Otherwise just 7 Whitethroat, a handful of Willow Warbler and a Wheatear.
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Didn't trap last night but still managed to pot a migrant in the garden last night. Dark Sword Grass #teammoth
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Nice pulse of migrants in the trap last night, including Striped Hawkmoth, Gem (a nice maroon one), Cream-bordered Green Pea, Small Rufous and several of the usual Small Mottled Willow, Silver Y, Rusty-dot Pearl and Rush Veneer #TeamMoth
Striped HawkmothStriped HawkmothGemCream-bordered Green Pea
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Great bird for a great reserve!
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Top bird. By far the closest one weve had here!
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Cracking Stone Curlew on Black Hole Marsh this evening, courtesy of @timnobby. First one on patch since 2012!
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Decent views of a smart juv Yellow-legged Gull on the Axe
Juv Yellow-legged Gull
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Wood Sandpiper and reintroduced White Stork on the Axe this evening, also LRP, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Cattle Egret and a Hobby
Wood SandpiperWhite Stork
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Less windy last night so trapped again. Still migrants/wanderers about with Scarce Bordered Straw (a well marked one!), Cream-bordered Green Pea, 2 Small Rufous, 2 Silver Y and 10 each of Rush Veneer and Rusty-dot Pearl. Also a Southern Wainscot #teammoth
Scarce Borderer StrawCream-bordered Green PeaSouthern Wainscot
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Nice to see my first 2 juv Yellow-legged Gulls of the summer on the Axe this evening. No doubt there thanks to the much needed increase in wind and cloud cover
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
I know they've become a bit common this year, but always a wonderful sight upon opening the trap - Striped Hawkmoth. Other migrants last night: Scarce Bordered Straw, Turnip Moth, Small Rufous, 3 Silver Y and 12 Rusty-dot Pearl #teammoth
Striped HawkmothScarce Bordered StrawTurnip MothSmall Rufous
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Purple Heron still showing well on Black Hole Marsh, having been found by Clive at 07:20 this morning.
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Amazing how often this happens! Finding a decent moth somewhere obvious (on a wall, or in my case in the conservatory) later on during the day after a nights mothing. What's been your best 'later in the day' moth? My first Bulrush Wainscot for the garden was mine late afternoon yesterday! #teammoth
Bulrush WainscotBulrush Wainscot
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Steve Waite @axebirder.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Osprey on the Axe. Just flown south east from Estuary towards Axe Cliff Golfcourse.
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