iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Couldn’t resist another stop at Seaton Wetlands on the way home from work for a second round with this juvenile pectoral sandpiper. It put on a great show in the evening shadow of the hide. Amazing views considering I’d never seen one a week ago! #Birds #DevonBirds #WildlifePhotography

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Remarkable selection of waders at Seaton Wetlands in a very brief visit this afternoon. I went to see the pectoral sandpiper - a lifer for me - but there was a supporting cast of curlew sandpiper, wood sandpiper, spotted redshanks, ruff, and many more. #DevonBirds #Birds #WildlifePhotography

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Managed to spend an hour at Seaton Wetlands this morning before work. It was a little rainy but there was a nice selection of waders, albeit sometimes distant. See below a couple of decent shots and a couple of record shots. #Birds #DevonBirds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife

Black-tailed godwits stretching its wings

Two spotted redshanks distantly feeding in the drizzle

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

It was nice to see this juvenile red-necked phalarope at Seaton Wetlands earlier in the week. The first I’ve seen in many years. #Birds #DevonBirds #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Where in Seaton are these? I work down there every day and quite fancy popping along on Monday. Thanks

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Dusted off the binoculars after a couple of months of inactivity when early word came through of a purple heron - a bird I’d never managed to see in the UK - at Seaton Wetlands. Fortunately, I arrived and got a few shots minutes before it departed. #Birds #DevonBirds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Some fantastic hawk-moth action in and around the garden trap over the past week. It’s currently my son’s favourite thing - the early morning moth trap surprise. “What’s going to be in there this morning?” #TeamMoth #Moths #UKWildlife #Devon #Hawkmoths

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Got excellent views of this female emperor dragonfly ovipositting at Seaton Wetlands yesterday whilst pond dipping with my son. #Devon #Dragonfly #Insects

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

I believe this to be a small elephant hawk moth. Sat on a wall outside the door of our offices in Seaton. A nice surprise as I was unlocking this morning and still there when I left this evening. #TeamMoth #Devon #Moths #Insects

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Also had one in Axminster a couple of nights ago.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Dartmoor is in Devon, South West England. It is south-west of Exeter.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Bluebells and birds on Dartmoor this afternoon. I’ve not explored Dartmoor since moving down here and today I began correcting that oversight. Some wonderful birds seen, but the bluebells were spectacular! #Birds #Devonbirds #Dartmoor #Bluebells #Sheep

Bluebells carpeting the floor with stone walls and green hills beyond

Male European stonechat perched on a gorse bush.

Juvenile European stonechat perched on gorse.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

An impromptu trip up to Ham Wall RSPB this morning. Lucky to see a few bitterns in flight, along with a bearded tit, hobby and marsh harriers. The place was full of ‘common’ migrant warblers as well, with lots of garden warblers warbling. #Birds #SomersetBirds #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography

Song thrush collecting breakfast for the family

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

I’m visiting there today. Where were the garganey? I know purple heron is pretty much luck, but garganey would be great.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Went exploring around Axe Cliffs for the first time today. Plenty of common migrant birds with this male black redstart the highlight. It was great to see lots of butterflies on the wing of at least 8 different species. #Birds #Butterflies #DevonBirds #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography #UKButterflies

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

A nice little Puffin Island cruise up the Menai Strait from Beaumaris this afternoon. Still early in the season, but I saw everything you would hope to see - just not in great numbers. #Birds #BirdingWales #Anglesey #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife

One of six puffins seen on the water just off the island.

A slightly different view of a European shag

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Family holiday on Anglesey in Wales meant we had to make the obligatory visit to South Stack Lighthouse. Although a couple of weeks too early, it was still great to see some of the sea birds venturing onto the cliffs to start squabbling over nest sites. #Birds #BirdingWales #WildlifePhotography

Razorbill enjoying some early Spring sunshine.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Lots of birds enjoying the sunshine today at Seaton Wetlands. It has also brought the first significant wave of Summer migrants across including these sand martins that were already prospecting and preparing nest sites. #Birds #DevonBirds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Great crested grebes ‘weed dancing’ is a sure sign Spring is in the air. Their courtship starts face to face, imitating each other’s movements. They then swim in opposite directions, dive and re-emerge with weed. Finally, they swim towards each other, rise up and dance. #Birds #WildlifePhotography

Great crested grebes mirroring each other’s movements.

Great crested grebe pair prospecting nest sites.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

It certainly would. Although I think you get different races of them in the US.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

I very frustratingly missed the forsters tern in Poole Park this afternoon. Some other birds showed themselves very well. It’s only after looking at the photo that I’ve noticed the merganser appears to have fishing line caught in its bill. #Birds #DorsetBirds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife

Female red-breasted merganser with what appears to be fishing line caught in its bill.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

I felt lucky to get such good views of this great white egret at Chard Reservoir this afternoon. It flew towards me and then spent some time fishing close by. Lucky for me - not so much for the fish. #Birds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife #SomersetBirds #Egret

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

That’s very kind. I was caught between being disappointed that the photo wasn’t pin sharp, with photographic artefacts like branches and leaves in the way. But then my thinking moved in the same way as yours thinking that this actually depicts the constant movement of this group of birds.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

I believe they both (all) fall into the family regulidae - so very much related.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

This is very cool! Thanks for sharing.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Finally, the sun appeared yesterday so I went exploring around Seaton Wetlands. Male and female shelducks looked great in the sun. Firecrest played hard to get in the bushes and my first coot in the Axe Valley - I never imagined they’d be a rarity! #DevonBirds #Birds #UkWildlife #WildlifePhotography

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

For someone so concerned about English, I would’ve thought yours would be better.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

We are in the south-west of England. A truly beautiful part of the country.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

I guess at Frampton Marsh, these would be pink-footed geese coming back to roost at the end of the day. I’ve seen them same in Norfolk and it is quite the spectacle! The noise as much as the sight.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

I’m not particularly familiar with birds from that side of the Atlantic, but if memory serves from a trip to Costa Rica years ago, I think this is a great kiskadee.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Hi, I use a Nikon D7500 with a Tamron 150mm-600mm lens. It works very well in good light but struggles in anything less. No tripod, just handheld for these shots.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Hi, I use a Nikon D7500 with a Tamron 150mm-600mm lens. It works very well in good light but struggles in anything less.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Went to explore Exminster Marshes this morning and it was also fantastic! I don’t know why it’s taken over a year living in Devon to start properly exploring these places. Loads of birds spending their winter feeding on the slightly flooded fields. #Birds #DevonBirds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Some unseasonable birds seen in Seaton during my lunch break today. The lesser whitethroat is thought to be of the Siberian subspecies which is really cool. There are apparently two of them over-wintering in this very small oasis in Devon. #DevonBirds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife #Birds

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

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

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

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.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

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?

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

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

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

It’s European, but I don’t know how far South in Europe it extends or how far East towards Asia it extends.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

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?

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

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.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

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

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

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

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

I think what you have here is a secretary bird native to the African continent.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

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

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

Thank you. Reported it. We’ll see if that comes to anything.

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Mike Ixer @mikeixer.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

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 😂

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