The Final Post

I thought I would make this post title way more dramatic than it needs to be, but this is the final catch-up post.  Hopefully from now on blogging will be in real time...

This is going to be all about autumn so far, away from the wading birds, gulls and the seabirds that I have already blogged about.

Last autumn Beer Head was excellent value in August and September, I just couldn't get enough of it.  This year it hasn't had the same pull on me.  Think this is because when I did get up there, it was often just a bit dull compared to 2025, but I also didn't have anywhere near as much time this year to get out.

Same can be said for Axe Cliff.  I have only been up there twice so far this autumn, although I hope to improve on that as the late autumn vismig period gets going.  Shout out to James Mc who has been giving Axe Cliff more time this autumn, and he's come away with a male Hen Harrier (1st Sept) and a Quail (26th Sept) for his hard work. Both patch ticks for him so what a great result!

Think the best way to do this is literally list my Beer Head/Axe Cliff visits from earliest to latest, so here we go...

Beer Head on 8th August in clear skies and a slight north west wind gave me a cracking male Redstart, but otherwise just 7 Whitethroat, 5 Willows Warblers and a Wheatear.

They're few birds easier on the eye than an autumn Willow Warbler

Not a bad looking male Redstart considering it's an autumn bird

Beer Head on 15th August was hampered by a brisk north west wind, although this was the reason why I was here as this wind direction often delivers a good fall - and it did!  Birds were moving through rapidly and I ended up with singles of Pied Flycatcher (our first of the year following a blank spring for the species), Spotted Flycatcher and Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wheatear, 4 Whitethroat and my autumn highest count of Willow Warbler, with 30+ recorded.

Thankfully Clive and Ian Mc were stood next to me when I found the Pied Fly, meaning we all could enjoy it before it flicked off and away north

A rear view of the Pied Fly

Beer Head on 28th August showed 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Wheatear, 4 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff and 35+ Yellow Wagtail.  If I had more time I would have covered more ground, but I only went around the east side of the head.

A Spotted Flycatcher looking simply wonderful in the soft autumn morning light

On the morning of 9th September I was at Axe Cliff, a cracking dawn it was too.  And it was the first time it felt like autumn had moved on, with several Meadow Pipits over west along with a few Yellow Wagtail, Grey and alba Wagtails and two Tree Pipits.  In keeping with the late autumn feel, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were the most numerous grounded migrants, as well as 3 Wheatear, 3 Whitethroat and a Whinchat.

Whinchat - there's been quite a few in the valley this autumn too

Just love this shot - Whinchat and Wheatear sharing the same fence line as they so often do

Axe Cliff again on 19th September was barely worth mentioning, it was really quiet both overhead and on the ground.  A single Wheatear as good as it got for me.

Back up to Beer Head on 24th September, which gave me the unexpected sight of a pair of Egyptian Geese over west!  Otherwise it was pretty quiet, although I did log my first vismig Skylarks of the autumn, and there seemed to have been a small arrival of Song Thrush so the first thrush arrival too!

A Beer Head tick for me - two Egyptian Geese west

 

Same pic with a lot more zoom!

 

Vismig wise, away from the headlands, I noticed the first Wood Pigeon flocks going through in the second week of October, which is quite early really.  No more than 1,000 birds but still seems quite early.  I had my first Siskin of the autumn over during my walk to work on 1st October, but none since so don't think it's going to be a good autumn for them.  Chaffinches are well underway now though, have seen some decent sized flocks going over in the last week.  

Although I haven't seen any true vismig Jays yet, I have seen several Jays in unusual places so they are definitely about in better than average numbers.  Hopefully soon to be followed by a load of Nutcrackers?

And that brings me and you pretty much up to date.  Thank you so much for your time, I hope you have enjoyed reading these catch up posts as much as I have writing them.  

As I said at the start of this blog, hopefully news will be more current from this point onwards. Well, that's the plan anyway...

My Insect Year

I am pretty sure this is the penultimate post of my month-long series of 'catch-up' posts!  Apologies you have had to wait a little longer for this one, and appreciate that all those who come to this blog for bird news will likely be disappointed by the subject...

Saying that though, it's been a really good year for insects, which is something the bird-only lovers amongst us should be keen to read bout.  More insects = more birds!  I will deal with them order by order...

Moths

It's been a cracking year for moth immigration, especially during the hot weather in June/July.  Even my moth trap was turning up good numbers of many immigrant moth species, although I never did manage a mega. I was hoping for an Eastern Bordered Straw as several were trapped during an influx in June, and again a month or two later when the next generation of the first influx were on the wing. I caught plenty Bordered Straw and Scarce Bordered Straw, just not their rarer relative.

Although not a mega nationally, I did get a massive highlight, literally. On 23rd June I trapped my 11th species of Hawkmoth in Seaton since I began trapping here 15+ years ago (13+ years at Mum and Dad's and this is the second year at my new house).  It's one that I didn't realise was quite so rare in Devon (about the 13th county record from what I can see), a cracking Pine Hawkmoth.  It's a species I have been hoping for, for so many years, but learning how rare they are in Devon it now makes sense why I had to wait so long...

Pine Hawkmoth - a little worn but still a cracker, and I love those black stripes!

A better view of its 'go faster stripes'

I trapped three Striped Hawkmoth during the year, which is nothing compared to what many others were catching, but a great result for my garden.  Always a cracking moth to come across...

A thrilling sight when this is looking at you from an egg box!

So beautifully marked

As well as plenty of the usual migrant species, Small Mottled Willows have had a freakishly good year, I caught them nightly in July/August, and often in double figures.  My highest count was 27 on 13th August, and I caught my latest on 3rd October.  Amazing stuff!  

Small Rufous and Small Marbled kept appearing in my trap this year, just a small number of both in all, but still more regular than usual...

The very small, Small Marbled

Not quite so small, but still fairly small, Small Rufous

A nice garden first, first ever for me in fact, was a Ni Moth that I caught on 30th May.  Amazingly though by the end of the season I caught a total of six!  Sums up how good this year has been for immigrant moths - none to six in the space of a month!

My first ever Ni Moth on 30th May

Caught two  Ni Moth together on 17th July

Other new moths for the garden this year have included...

Scarce Silver-lines on 16th June

Large Emerald on 10th July

This is the second Dewick's Plusia I have trapped in Seaton, but the first in this garden, on 16th July

Dog's Tooth on 19th July

Bulrush Wainscot on 20th July

Southern Wainscot on 28th July

I did just want to mention this Gem too, which is another immigrant species.  I have caught a few over the years, but this individual was the best coloured one I have ever seen, just so red...

A very red Gem caught on 4th August

It's not just moths from the moth trap that have been great, but I've never seen so many Hummingbird Hawkmoths as I have this year!  This includes three I've had to rescue from our conservatory, a treat to get such close views and to then release all three unharmed...

The only this one wasn't flying is because it thought it was still trapped in my pot!  Such great insects

Butterflies

Just like moths, what a year for immigrant butterflies!  Saying that I don't recall exceptional numbers of Painted Ladies at any point this year, just ok to good numbers, Clouded Yellows on the other hand!  Although I've seen more than I ever have, I didn't witness numbers quite like those that a Sidmouth friend (Dan) did, as he counted 250 in a single field at Stantyway Farm (Otterton) in mid-September!  There are still plenty about now, I saw six during a brief lunchtime walk just last week.  There's been so many about I would say they've been the most numerous butterfly species on the wing at some points of the year.

The patch has also hosted some Long-tailed Blues this year (for the second time, following several at Axmouth Harbour in August 2019).  Funnily enough the day they were found along Seaton Down Road I had spent an hour checking the site at Axmouth Harbour thinking one or more were on the cards.  The Seaton Down Road ones were present from 11tt August and seen for a good ten days or so.

Local birder Phil A had one in his garden too, on 22nd August, and no doubt there were a few more about.  Pity I never did find a Queen of Spain Fritillary though, they have had an good year across the south of the UK like L-t Blues.

Numbers of the resident species seem to have been pretty healthy too across the year, including all the spring species like Orange-tip and Brimstone which can suffer some years if it's been a cool spring.  The one species I am concerned about though is Small Tortoiseshell, not sure why their numbers have plummeted so drastically!?

Dragonflies

This year felt like the year it all changed with some former rarities on patch.  Although Lesser Emperors and Norfolk Hawkers have become way more numerous across the southwest over the last couple years, they have always remained rare or at least scarce here...well until this year!  I didn't manage to get to Lower Bruckland Ponds as much as usual this summer, however others reported numerous of both species present, and Tim W finally saw a mating pair of Norfolk Hawkers - something we've failed to witness even though the species has been here annually since 2023.  I did get to the Ponds three times during the main summer season and saw several Lesser Emperors and two Norfolk Hawkers myself which was nice.

The patch's first Lesser Emperor away from Lower Bruckland Ponds was also recorded this year, with Kev photographing a female on Beer Head on 10th August.

Although I didn't manage to see any Red-veined Darters on patch this year, they've had a spectacular year a bit like Lesser Emperors.  I couldn't believe how many I saw at a random bog on north Dartmoor in July, mingling with Black Darters.  Really does seem like these and Lesser Emperors are here to stay now - in good numbers too!

Red-veined Darter male

And again - such a distinctive shade of red!

And that's that!  It has taken me ages to get this post together, not really sure why as it's hardly a work of art.  Still, I hope you have enjoyed it even for those who are insect-averse. 

My next post I plan to publish tomorrow or Friday, so check back soon for that and I promise it will be bird-based...

Axe Rare Breeders of 2026

It's been an exceptional year for unusual breeding species on patch.  I obviously won't be mentioning anything really rare here, just unusual for us...

Gadwall were hanging around as winter turned to spring in unusually high numbers, often on Seaton Marshes. Ten were often present, but I think the peak count was of 12 on 25th March.  So, although it has never happened here before (as far as any of us current birders are aware of anyway), it wasn't much of a surprise to see some Gadwall ducklings on the Borrow Pit on 27th May, joined by a second family from 30th May.  We had a third family appear too in early June, but not quite sure what date that happened.

One of the Mummy Gadwall with one of the babies

This was one from the third and final brood that appeared

The above again with two of its siblings

On the same day in mid June that I photographed the smaller Gadwall ducklings, this is how the first brood of the year that appeared looked - all grown up!

 

Coots very rarely breed in the valley, but we had two pairs this summer, both on Seaton Marshes.  At least one of the pairs had two broods too, hopefully ensuring there's enough birds to keep this breeding population going for a few years...

Baby Coot with Mummy

The three chicks from the Borrow Pit Coot pair

All the above young birds shared the Borrow Pit with these two gorgeous young Little Grebe - this species breed here annually but always less than five pairs at only two sites.

  

Small numbers of Black-headed Gulls have always hung around Black Hole Marsh during May/June when most have left, they mostly seem to be first-summer birds.  But this is the first year a pair settled down and actually nested.  Unfortunately, like everything else that tried to nest on Black Hole this year (and the past three), the eggs were likely predated right on the cusp of when they were due to hatch in early June.  

I really hope the situation here can be improved, as at the moment it feels almost cruel enticing birds to nest here, when we know full well their nests will get predated.  Black Hole Marsh is absolutely void of young birds in late spring/early summer now, whereas rewind a few years when there were three Avocet chicks along with several home-grown young Oystercatchers (from three different nests).  I even miss the Canada Geese goslings!

The last species I have to mention for the Axe is Goosander.  Although I didn't see it, but on 7th June a female Goosander was photographed from Tower Hide with five youngsters on her back.  Presumably originating from somewhere up river, so possibly not strictly a patch breeding record - it just depends how far upriver they came from!

Whilst on the subject of rare breeders, I can't not mention these even though they were off-patch by quite some way (although still in Devon).  On 8th May I was surprised to come across two singing male Black Redstarts at suitable breeding habitat, with one bird in particularly offering brilliant views.  Sadly though despite keeping an eye on them throughout the season, I didn't see any females or young so presumably both had sung in vain.  Still great to watch though, and a species that remains an extremely rare breeding bird in the county.  Fingers crossed they return next year and have more luck!

What a corker - much better than the only other time I have come across breeding Black Reds in Devon, as that male was a grotty-looking first-summer bird! Saying that though, he did get a mate and successfully breed so it can't just be about looks!

Showing us its red bits!

 

Hope you've enjoyed this update.  Check back soon for more...

Back to Black Hole Marsh

I'm going to have to interrupt my series of 'catch-up' posts with a some more recent news, as Black Hole Marsh has been simply amazing!

Wader numbers and variety have dropped right off now as expected, with just a couple of Curlew Sandpipers and a Ruff present today, but the last few weeks have been absolutely amazing, including peak counts of seven Ruff and three Spotted Redshank. The last Spotted Redshank record was on 22nd, which means at least one has been present for basically a month, as the first two first appeared on 23rd August - an unprecedentedly long stay for this species on the Axe.

Some of the views of wading birds from the Island Hide have been simple incredible, so much so that even I couldn't fail at getting some ok photos...

My best ever photos of Spotted Redshank

Ruff and reflection

Almost came under the hide!  

 

It's been really enjoyable having a large wagtail roost here too this autumn, which is pretty much all Pieds now but on 29th August I counted 110+ Yellow Wags at dusk which was quite a sight (and sound!).

Alongside Black Hole Marsh, on the morning of 20th Bob L spotted a Wryneck on the tram tracks from Tower Hide.   I was just heading up that way on the tram which was handy, and although the Wryneck never showed well for us, we had at least three views of it either flitting up from track to bush, or flying bush to bush.  Our final view was more prolonged as it flew across Black Hole Marsh heading for the main path west of the marsh.  Sometime later though it clearly flew back, as it was seen again on the tram line and was last seen yesterday, but could well still be around as it's been elusive.

I have referenced Osprey in one or more of my recent posts, but it finally seems like they have  moved on now.  Osprey's have been present daily on the Axe since 20th August until 22nd September, with both adult and juvenile birds being seen. Who knows how many individuals we have actually had during that time, but I do think one juvenile in particular has been hanging around for the majority, if not all of it.

Check back soon for the next post which could be either current news or old news. I do still have a fair bit to tell from my blogging hiatus so it will probably be the latter unless of course something mega turns up!  Thanks for reading...

 

 

Seawatching Update

Weather-wise this year we have not lacked sunshine or dry spells, which means suitable seawatching weather has been very much at a premium.  On the  odd occasion this weather broke I tried to get whatever I could from the sea, as you will now read all about...

I probably should have written this post in chronological order, however I just have to skip to the completely unexpected star sea bird of the year (so far anyway!).

At the end of August there was a weather front from the south/south east that came in, around about the 28th, and it included our first decent drop of rain since early June.

I had a quick look out to sea on the evening of 28th, and within a few minutes saw my first Balearic Shearwaters of the year, and after 15 minutes had seen at least ten (some clearly lingering).  The following morning conditions were even better, and a lot wetter, although I wasn't able to make it out early.  I was in touch with other watchers though here and nearby, and there wasn't that much going through so I wasn't too fed up about missing out.  

Mid-morning on 29th the rain eased, and I did have a short window of free time so nipped down to Spot On Kiosk at about 10am for a completely speculative seawatch, one that I was not expecting much from at all.  I did have a nice early highlight though, with a dark-phased Arctic Skua through, as well as a couple of Balearic Shearwaters.  There were a few Gannets passing through too which always gives some hope, and it was whilst I was looking at a loose flock of about four or five of these that a distinctive shape flicked up in amongst them... a few more views and I could see it was a large shearwater sp.  And it wasn't long before it became apparent it was a Cory's Shearwater!  It's pale underparts, pale brown upperparts (including head) and its overall size, shape and jizz being the clinching features.

The best thing about this bird was that I first picked it up really early when it was still way off to the east.  This meant I enjoyed four minutes of uninterrupted views as it made its way west, before I lost it around the corner of the Spot On Kiosk at 10:12.  What an absolute treat and honestly a complete shock as it was not a great seawatching day anywhere on the south coast - especially not for big shears (even in Cornwall!).

Because I had so much time with it I was able to spend some of that time holding my phone up to my telescope, and amazingly it sort of worked! I managed to grab a short video of it which gave me these video-stills...

The first Cory's ever photographed/videoed (just) off Seaton!

Testing the limits of my phone camera that's for sure!

Testing the limit even more, but worth it for that classic Cory's wing-droop!

And here is the actual video. I will warn you now it isn't an easy watch mostly due to my far from steady hands, but the distance involved and wind also didn't help. The Cory's doesn't come into view until about the 13 seconds mark...  

I alerted other birders to the west of me, and a Cory's Shearwater was subsequently seen flying south past Dawlish Warren at 11:45 which presumably was the same bird.  Some really heavy showers passed through between my sighting and this one, so there's every chance it may have spent some time sitting these out.

This was my third record of Cory's Shearwater for the patch, following my first single on 13/10/23 and then two through together on 23/08/24.  Having not seen any here for my first 20 years of birding the patch (although I have missed a few), and now seeing four in the last four years, it does feel like things are changing... probably sea temperatures sadly.

Other seawatching activity since my last seawatching-related post on this blog (which was way back on 17th April!) include:

19th Sept.  A decent south westerly wind was blowing although it was really too clear and no rain.  Half an hour at Spot On from 7am produced 11 Balearic Shearwaters, 4 Kittiwake and 2 Common Scoter all west.  Best of all though was a Hobby which flew out to sea, but about five minutes later returned in/off again right above my head!

Four of a flock of seven Balearic Shearwaters

A terrible photo of a very quick (but clearly indecisive) Hobby!

6th June.  A very wet and windy morning saw me at the thatched shelter on Seaton seafront.  A single Storm Petrel flew west at 07:20 (my first and only so far this year - they really do love the rain!), along with 2 Great Northern Diver, 3 Sanderling, 14 Sandwich Terns and small numbers of Manx Shearwaters, Gannets and Kittiwakes.  

5th June.  Thirty minutes from 7pm, with a storm approaching from the south, produced a single Arctic Skua west as well as 30+ distant shearwater sp. (presumably Manx).

19th May. Great to get a classic spring seawatch in what was otherwise a very non-classic spring!  06:15 - 07:55 produced: 2 Arctic Skua (1 east at 06:30 and 1 chasing Kittiwakes at 07:25, both pale-phased and my first of the year), 9 Great Northern Diver (all west and most in full summer plumage), 2 Common Scoter, 43 Manx Shearwater, 90+ Kittiwake and 9 Sanderling (in/off and then landed on the beach).

I love the variation in spring Sanderling - highlighted well by these two from the flock of nine.

Another of my favoured spring sights, a migrating Great Norther Diver.  This was one of the few not in summer plumage so presumably a first-summer bird

And there we go!  So as things stand not a good year for seawatching from Seaton, but still some nice highlights with the major one being the Cory's Shearwater.  A spring/summer with any skuas is always good though, and I came out of spring 2026 with two Great and three Arctic so even though no Poms, some skuas will always be better than none!  Storm Petrel is not always annual here either so that was another nice highlight in early June.

Be sure to check back soon for another post...

Gulls of the Axe; Autumn '26

Following last years incredible autumn influx of Caspian Gulls, which continued through much of the winter, I couldn't wait to see if it was going to happen again in 2026.  And well it sort of has, briefly at least anyway.

Records of Caspian Gulls were few and far between in the south west this autumn until we had a few days of south easterly winds at the end of August, and over the next few days it felt like we were indeed going to get a repeat of 2025's mayhem.  However, after three consecutive days of Caspian Gulls on the Axe, I've not seen another since.  The continued presence of Ospreys on the Axe this autumn are clearly not helping (such gull-flushers!) however I am checking when I can and there just doesn't seem to be any Casps around at the moment.

All of the Caspians were absolute corkers in their own way, and my records are as follows (all on the main Estuary):

Two juv/1st-winters on 27th August at 5pm....

A real long-winged beauty, with well advanced moult in scapulars and already quite white headed

Same bird as above out of water - look at those long pink legs! Great comparison with similarly aged Herring Gull to the right. Overall shape just so different.

Bird number two from the 27th, which was way more advanced into first-winter plumage with a very white head. This bird also had more pale in the greater coverts.  Did wonder if it was a first-summer for a bit, but bill suggests first-winter.

I then had a new juv/first-winter late afternoon on 28th August...

What a soft-looking beauty - it's a colour of brown that no other juv gull is like in my opinion

Same as above.  Look how clean and smooth those greater coverts are!  Note already the pale on the bill which is a great Casp-feature as young Herring's often don't get pale on their bill until late winter/spring

Then mid-afternoon on 29th August I had the same juv (I think) and a first-summer, before both were flushed by an Osprey...

Both birds together.  First-summer (so hatched in 2025) on left with the faded but still plain greater coverts, younger bird to right which I think is same bird as previous day

Many places are reporting poor numbers of juv/1w Yellow-legged Gulls this autumn, however the Axe seems to be doing comparatively well for them!  My highest single count was of three first-winters on 27th August, but their presence has been fairly well drawn out with my first two on 15th July...

Still quite juvenile-like, note white ground colour to underparts and head, dark eye-mask and pink legs

A flight-shot of bird number two. Note restricted pale on inner primaries

And my most recent on 6th September....

Had lovely views of this one, in some nice light too (not too harsh).

This cracker on 27th July deserves a special mention, showing really well on the lower Estuary...

Insane views of this one.  Like Caspian Gulls of this age, I find juv Yellow-legs have a unique colour too, almost chocolatey

And a nice view of its wing pattern, note the restricted pale on inner primaries

It has been a pitiful late summer/autumn for Med Gulls on the Axe, with just small numbers trickling through and no big days for us.  There's only been the odd Common Gull so far, but I was pleased to see a juvenile/first-winter on Black Hole Marsh on the evening of 13th September...

Not a great pic as it was getting dark!

And that's it, no other gull surprises for me or anyone else here.  The autumn is still young though so am looking forward to what may lay ahead.  Next blog post, sea birds...