Studies in greige... #DevonBirds

One of two Siberian Chiffchaffs at Colyton WTW this afternoon. Impossible to count in any meaningful way, but wouldn't surprise me if there were 100+ Chiffs present here. Quite a captivating sight. 😎 #DevonBirds

Keeping it simple... #DevonBirds

A rare sight in the Axe valley: 13 Barnacle Geese and 5 Brents. Don't mean to seem ungrateful, but Whitefronts and Beans would be very welcome too. 😄 #DevonBirds

A pleasant but frustrating walk along the lower Axe Estuary trying to read gull colour-rings that were either too far away or too glaringly lit was massively enhanced at last knockings by the appearance of this lovely 1w Caspian Gull...😎 #DevonBirds

This is what happens when the weather is awful and you spend too much time wistfully scrolling #TeamMoth stuff... 🙄

The glittery distraction... #TeamMoth

ObsID to the rescue... #TeamMoth

There have been a few mothy blanks lately, but I've been holding out in the hope of one of these for the new garden. Well worth it. Last night brought two, along with a very worn Brick, which was NFG *and* for me! #TeamMoth

Gulls & Terns... #DevonBirds

A very pleasing 1w Caspian Gull on the Axe Estuary at midday. More than happy if they keep coming like this for the rest of the winter. 😎 #DevonBirds

Wetter and windier this afternoon, and yet another 1w Caspian Gull on the Axe Estuary. Doesn't match any previous first-winters that I've managed reasonable photos of. #DevonBirds

A nice, hefty 1w Caspian Gull on the Axe Estuary this morning. Unfortunately its half of the flock flew the moment I got the camera out, so just these slightly out-of-focus flight shots to record the happy event. My 10th Axe Casp in exactly 6 weeks. My first 10 took from 2007-2018!! #DevonBirds

Thus far, in East Devon... #DevonBirds #TeamMoth

Hard to imagine a finer way to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon than loitering around the sewage works. Yesterday's Sibe Chiff (presumably) gave me one chance at a photo, and a bonus Firecrest added a dash of dazzle. 😎 Colyton WTW #DevonBirds

Sibe Chiff at Colyton WTW late this afternoon, one of probably two with decent numbers of collybita. Made a change from gulls. One of these shots taken at 3200 ISO, which is a bit of a stretch for the Nikon P950. #DevonBirds

Niche birds... #DevonBirds

Ten Years in West Dorset is less a blog post, more a chapter in my life. Hopefully an inspiration for those who prefer the paths less trodden. Bit of an epic, so well done if you get through it all. #DorsetBirds

Awkward lunchtime gulling on the Axe with @axebirder.bsky.social, but 3 Caspian Gulls to show for it. Despite wind, torrential rain and inconveniantly distant birds, managed to maintain record of getting photo of every Casp I've ever seen...however awful! #DevonBirds

1/1 to the porch light 😎 #TeamMoth

A bit of moth jam... #TeamMoth

In other news... While a rare moth was heading for the trap back home, Gong were at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis. So was I. Ozric Tentacles in December. My cup runneth over. 😎

Just two moths actually in the trap this morning, a Rusty-dot Pearl and this beauty. Banded Sable was not on my shortlist of candidates for number 24 on the new garden list! As far as I can make out, less than 20 Devon records. Axminster VC3 #TeamMoth

The actinic porch light scored nicely last night, pulling in this lovely little Vestal to shelter from the rain. 😎 Axminster VC3 #TeamMoth

Smart gulls and a very unexpected first for Devon... #DevonBirds #TeamMoth

A lunchtime check of the Axe Estuary gulls turned up a hefty 1w Caspian Gull. Half an hour later a 2w dropped in. First time I've had two at once here. Or anywhere! 😎 #DevonBirds

Completing the set... #TeamMoth

Olive-tree Pearl on the trap vanes already, and a different individual to last night's. Promising. 😊 Axminster VC3 #TeamMoth

Pick of the trap migrant-wise, this Olive-tree Pearl accompanied by Vestal and Rusty-dot Pearl. But in some ways best of the 9/8 was Blair's Shoulder-knot on house wall, a new moth for me. Axminster VC3 #TeamMoth

Quick check inside the trap revealed this peering at me. Olive-tree Pearl? Would be a nice bit of quality for the new garden. Only ever caught a couple in Bridport. Axminster VC3 #TeamMoth

Very distant, awful light, etc... but this Cirl Bunting on clifftop brambles was highlight of the morning at Axe Cliff, Seaton. Nothing of particular note vis-mig wise, but some nice Woodpigeon flocks coasting. #DevonBirds

Onwards and upwards... #DevonBirds #TeamMoth

Prior to my final outing as guide on Seaton Birdwatching Tram, a quick look at R Axe produced this 1w Caspian Gull, yet another in ridiculous series of records this year. Think this takes us to c31 in 2025 (mostly c/o @axebirder.bsky.social) compared with 38 birds in preceding 18 yrs! #DevonBirds

No trap tonight so but just popped out to find this lovely fresh Merveille du Jour on the wall next to the porch light. Sticking a 20W actinic bulb in it was so worth the modest investment! 😄 Axminster, Devon #TeamMoth

I've only once been to Spurn, so don't know it, but this just popped up on my YouTube feed and might be of interest to regulars. I noticed the postman is wearing bins... 😁 youtu.be/CULUs8IfIxc?...

Trap's first outing in Axminster produces just 8 moths, but one was this Green-brindled Crescent - dusted with green glitter, an absolute belter and one of my all-time favourite moths - and one a Merveille du Jour. In three Bridport autumns caught just 4 and 2 respectively. A good start then. 😎

Breakfast with Merv. Despite intentions to contrary, trap out for first time in new Axminster home. GB Crescent, RD Pearl, White Point, 2 Vine's Rustic and LYU added weight to argument that I should do it again before 2026.

Recent Axe Estuary Caspian Gull Green T|P hadn't come far really, as the ringing data shows. Always great to get the story on colour-ringed birds, and in my experience almost all projects respond very quickly to enquiries. Grateful thanks to RJ. #DevonBirds

Another priceless PBO blog post. '... science and social care...' 😄

Local stuff. Gulls and crests mainly... #DevonBirds

Only had time for 15-minute check of Axe gulls this morning, but roughly fourth bird I looked at was a Dutch-ringed 1w Caspian Gull. Astonishing run of these locally at the moment. Think an afternoon visit essential! 😄 With thanks to @axebirder.bsky.social for the regular gen.

With no plans to do any trapping until next year, nevertheless thought I'd try and get new home moth list underway by installing porch light plus 20W actinic bulb today. Quick check just now, and we're away: 2 spp. 😄 Axminster, Devon

I have Firecrest photos with a lot more bird on show, but rather like this shot. One of two birds in the Black Hole Marsh car park, Seaton Wetlands early evening; this one ringed. #DevonBirds

What it says on the tin... #DevonBirds

A surprise Siberian Chiffchaff among 20+ Chiffs at Beer Head this morning. Attached ropey photo compares Sibe on the right with regular collybita job on the left. #DevonBirds

Seabirds, 'Scillies running', scuppered... #DorsetBirds

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Very much a 'birder's photo' but at least it features one of West Bay's iconic 'red baskets' as @tombrereton.bsky.social would call it. Juv Sabine's Gull was well worth getting wet for in this evening's rain. Off the end of the West Pier. 😎 With thanks to Tom for the shout. #DorsetBirds

Cogden bushes dead quiet this morning but plenty of birds offshore - mostly milling around it seemed - including double figures of Balearic Shearwater (25+ in one scan) and Med Gull; also 7 Ringed Plovers on the beach. #DorsetBirds