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

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

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

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

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

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