Of Gulls and Crests Mainly

In any normal year, finding a single Caspian Gull would warrant a full, gloaty post all of its own. But this is not a normal year. Steve has nicely summarized the current local scenario on his blog here, but in a nutshell: Caspian Gull has gone from Axe scarcity-bordering-on-rarity (38 birds in 18 years since the first in 2007) to dross (28 birds so far in 2025) in one fell swoop. Sunday's dismal weather produced an astonishing six Casps for Steve (Dawlish Warren also had six that day) and on Monday morning he found another. I wasn't able to get involved on Sunday, but managed a quick look after Steve on Monday morning and a slower one around 4pm. Each visit produced a Caspian Gull...

1w Caspian Gull - the afternoon bird...

...and again.

The morning bird. Also a first-winter, and wearing a green ring (T|P) from a Dutch project. Initially picked up on the water, I guessed a new arrival, but it was the same bird Steve had seen a little earlier.

Green T|P on the mud. Ringing details awaited...

The afternoon visit also produced a nice, sub-adult Yellow-legged Gull (4th-winter?) which got me wondering whether YLG is actually the scarcer taxon right now...

Presumed 4w Yellow-legged Gull on the left.

It is very nice living close to the Axe again. In ten years as a West Dorset resident I saw just five Caspian Gulls in the county, so currently I have a slight kid-in-a-sweetshop feeling whenever I pass the river and see a conveniently viewable gathering of gulls on display.

Prior to recent gullage there was a protracted spell of high-pressure weather, and many Chiffchaffs, including 60+ up Beer Head one morning last week. There were also 3 Firecrests, 2 Goldcrests and 4 Blackcaps on that occasion, which is pretty darn decent for Beer Head. And late one afternoon I came across another couple of Firecrests in the car park trees at Black Hole Marsh.

Flavour of the month. It's been a really good autumn for Chiffs.

Chiff again.

The only photo-opp that a Beer Head Firecrest gave me. All was beautifully framed, crisp and sharp...but the moment I pressed the shutter my subject leaped from the twigs to the fence, neatly spoiling the composition and putting itself very slightly out of focus. Sigh...

One of the Black Hole Marsh Firecrests. Just. I like this shot.

Same bird. I hadn't noticed that it was ringed. I wonder where?

I started with a gull, so I'll finish with one too. Prior to the latest Casp glut, one of the smartest gulls I saw last week was this rather swish juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull...

Long, lean, and looking very fresh - juv LBBG on the left.

A Flavour of Things to Come

Too many stressful weeks finally came to an end on Monday, 22nd September when we moved into our new home in Axminster. Birding time has been in short supply, but with old East Devon haunts just down the road, well...

Monochrome Greenshank at Black Hole Marsh, on the Seaton Wetlands.

Ridiculously good views of waders were a rare thing in West Dorset, so the Seaton Wetlands have been fun...

Little Stint

Curlew Sandpiper

That first visit was notable not just for quality waders, but also 3 Great White Egrets, Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier, and this...

This Glossy Ibis flew up and down the valley a couple of times, before heading off south.

Evening visits have been enjoyable, with many birds and few people. Picking through the gulls has yet to yield a Caspian Gull for me, but other esoteric interests have been catered for...

A bunch of 20-odd Cormorants in front of the Tower Hide produced this sinensis ('Continental') bird, the first really convincing individual I've encountered on the Axe.

I was quite sure that all the others were obvious carbo Cormorants, but checking through the pics I spotted this one sneaking in to the frame on the right. I hadn't noticed it at the time. Just look at the difference in bill sizes on those birds! The original sinensis is on the left at the back.

That particular evening there were also 2 Marsh Harriers, a pair of Gadwall and 4 Goosanders...

I've had the occasional Goosander or two on the Axe, but I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've seen four together.

​One local spot I was keen to revisit was Beer Head, and this morning I made it happen.

Overcast and dull, with the lightest northerly breeze, there was almost nothing moving overhead. But there was a Wheatear by the clifftop, as well as 20+ Chiffs and 3 Blackcaps in the bushes. Better still, I had fleeting views of a very pale and interesting bird which looked a good candidate for Siberian Chiffchaff. Eventually it gave itself up - albeit at some range - and I got a handful of ropey pics...

A bit over-exposed, but clearly 'pale and interesting'.

Rear view.

Colour/tone-wise, probably the most representative shot.

Composite image, with collybita Chiff on the left.

Anyway, I'm having it. As far as I'm concerned that is a Siberian Chiffchaff, and one of the very, very few I've seen away from various Water Treatment Works!

A few more shots from Beer Head...

When I was last an East Devon resident 10+ years ago, the iconic 'Old Lookout' was virtually derelict. It has since had a massive face-lift and is now a fancy - and no doubt expensive - holiday let.

Wheatear, fence post. A necessary photo.

...and again.

So there we are. A flavour of things to come.