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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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’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

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

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

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

Pleasant if very busy trip to the National Trust at Stourhead. Very picturesque in autumn! #Autumn #Fall #NationalTrust #Stourhead

Second ever visit to Chard Reservoir this morning and a very enjoyable one at that. A show off kingfisher was the highlight but it was nice to see species that I don’t see in my usual birding spots - bizarrely coots and tufted ducks. Also some mandarin ducks and a marsh tit. #birds #UKWildlife

Lots of birds about and over whilst completing junior park run with the little person in Axminster this morning. A singing chiffchaff felt weird at the end of October and a Cettis singing along the railway like was my first around town. #Birds #DevonBirds #Birding

Spent an hour at Bowling Green Marsh this afternoon. Lots to see but everything was quite distant - everything except this spotted redshank! The snipe put on a good show as well. Never had views this good of a spotshank. #Birds #DevonBirds #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography

Chuffed to find this 1w caspian gull from Tower Hide yesterday lunchtime. It hasn’t been a rarity down there this year, but not a bird I’ve found myself identifying with any certainty previously. #Birds #DevonBirds #Gulls

Great selection of waders at Seaton Wetlands this PM. 3 little stints, 3+ curlew sandpipers, a single knot and 3 ruffs were the highlights amongst plenty of others. Also great views of water rail and a kingfisher as well as a possible YL gull. #DevonBirds #Birds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife

Fantastic pre-work visit to Seaton Marshes for amazing views of this wryneck. 35 minutes well spent! #Birds #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography #Wryneck #DevonBirds

Had a great time yesterday evening with a spontaneous trip to the #SidmouthAirshow. Some truly amazing flying. No photos of the spectacular #RedArrows as I had an entranced 3 year old on my shoulders. #Airshow #Devon #Sidmouth #Aeroplanes #Aviation

A major bonus from today’s visit to Seaton Wetlands was getting amazing views of this brown hairstreak. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before and I’m led to believe getting views like this can be exceptionally unusual. #Butterflies #UKButterflies #UKWildlife #DevonWildlife

A brief visit to Seaton Wetlands this morning with the family to see the marsh sandpiper. Hopefully it sticks and I can go back for prolonged second views without a three year old. Great to also see a couple of little stints. #DevonBirds #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography #Migration

Seaton Wetlands was the best I’ve seen it in my 18 months living down here. So many wading birds and others with highlights being bar-tailed godwit, spotted redshank, green and wood sandpipers and greenshanks. #DevonBirds #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife #Birds #Migration

Another trip up to Beer Head this morning in search of passage migrants. Plenty seen but only the wheatears were good enough to pose for photos. Redstart was a nice sighting but too quick to get the camera on before disappearing. Spotted flycatcher and yellow wagtail also seen. #DevonBirds

Very exciting to see two hummingbird hawkmoths around our Axminster garden budleia. #GardenWildlife #TeamMoth #UKWildlife #Devon

Nice visit to Seaton Wetlands today. The ruff gave good views and there were plenty of other waders around including 3 greenshanks and a few common sandpipers. The highlight was the appearance of the red arrows overhead. #Birds #RedArrows #DevonBirds #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography

Saw a few early migrants at Beer Head this morning. I was delighted to find a pied flycatcher as this was my prime target - never had much luck seeing them on their ‘autumn’ migration. A couple of flyover tree pipits were also a bonus. #Birds #DevonBirds #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography #Migration

Brief, hot but rewarding visit to Reserve Naturelle du Lac de Grand-Lieu yesterday. Just under an hour but clocked up a couple of lifers (black kite and purple heron) as well as great views of whiskered terns. #Birds #France #WildlifePhotography

Spent some time trying to photograph this hummingbird hawkmoth in the garden of our French home exchange property. Also had my first ever black-winged kite fly over during a short evening walk. #Moth #TeamMoth #France #MacroPhotography #WildlifePhotography

As I sent the children out for break today, I noticed the large buddleia was heaving with butterflies. A quick print of the #BigButterflyCount ID sheet and the children were hooked on finding #butterflies for the rest of the day. I was equally delighted to see my first ever silver-washed fritillary!

Not an unusual or rare sighting, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many cinnabar moth caterpillars in a single area of ragwort. An overgrown area of our Axminster garden. #Moth #TeamMoth #UKWildlife #GardenWildlife #Insects

What an evocative sound! Nightjar ‘churring’ on a Devon heathland this evening! #Birding #Birds #UKWildlife #sunset

Great to catch up with these beautiful black-winged stilts here in East Devon yesterday. Good to see the marsh harrier as well. #DevonBirds #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography #Birds #Birding

Had a red kite go low over the garden first thing this morning. A bonus of hanging washing outside! First red kite over since we moved here a year ago. #Devonbirds #birds #birding #Migration

Great trip to Seaton Wetlands this afternoon. Avocets, whimbrels, marsh harrier, Egyptian geese, cattle egrets, ringed plovers, little ringed plovers and loads of warblers. #Birds #Birding #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography #DevonBirds

Spent the final evening in Pembrokeshire heading out and getting chilled to the bone on a sunset cruise off Skomer and in St Brides Bay looking for Manx shearwaters. It was very successful! #Birds #Birding #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotography #Sunset #Wales #Seabirds #Cruise