Ben Rackstraw
@benracks.bsky.social
Birding and general nature seeker in West Norfolk. Mainly on foot.
Ridiculously poor phone pic, proper camera is in for repairs, but it's a record shot of a surprise butterfly patch tick this morning, Clouded Yellow, along the bank of the cut-off channel in Wretton, Norfolk @norfolkbutterflies.bsky.social
October 26, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Ridiculously poor phone pic, proper camera is in for repairs, but it's a record shot of a surprise butterfly patch tick this morning, Clouded Yellow, along the bank of the cut-off channel in Wretton, Norfolk @norfolkbutterflies.bsky.social
A surprise on the Buddleia at NOA Holme this morning, with a Bedstraw Hawkmoth nectaring alongside 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths, which it absolutely dwarved. New for me, and good to see one in action, rather than in a trap. #NorfolkMoths
August 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
A surprise on the Buddleia at NOA Holme this morning, with a Bedstraw Hawkmoth nectaring alongside 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths, which it absolutely dwarved. New for me, and good to see one in action, rather than in a trap. #NorfolkMoths
A very pleasant walk out on patch this evening. A migrant Redstart being just one of the indicators that autumn is here #NorfolkBirding #NorfolkWildlife
August 14, 2025 at 7:52 PM
A very pleasant walk out on patch this evening. A migrant Redstart being just one of the indicators that autumn is here #NorfolkBirding #NorfolkWildlife
A pair of Clouded Yellows in the dunes at Holme NWT this afternoon. As my rather naive 14 year old would say "Those butterflies are stuck together".
#NorfolkButterflies
#NorfolkButterflies
August 8, 2025 at 6:43 PM
A pair of Clouded Yellows in the dunes at Holme NWT this afternoon. As my rather naive 14 year old would say "Those butterflies are stuck together".
#NorfolkButterflies
#NorfolkButterflies
Not long back from #Latitude. One of the highlights was this secret set by Antony Szmierek after midnight on Saturday, announced 45 min beforehand, blending his own numbers with superb covers of Sugababes & New Order
July 28, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Not long back from #Latitude. One of the highlights was this secret set by Antony Szmierek after midnight on Saturday, announced 45 min beforehand, blending his own numbers with superb covers of Sugababes & New Order
Stone-curlews outnumbering visitors by 9:1 today at NWT Weeting. 1 pair on eggs, 1 pair with chick and 4 troublemakers #NorfolkBirding
July 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Stone-curlews outnumbering visitors by 9:1 today at NWT Weeting. 1 pair on eggs, 1 pair with chick and 4 troublemakers #NorfolkBirding
Limited dragonfly activity at Dersingham Bog this morning, but did come across this demale-type Black Darter. Surprised just how small it was, like a damselfly almost.
July 9, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Limited dragonfly activity at Dersingham Bog this morning, but did come across this demale-type Black Darter. Surprised just how small it was, like a damselfly almost.
Just jumped onboard the Scarlet Tiger Norfolk bandwagon in Wretton #NorfolkMoths
June 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Just jumped onboard the Scarlet Tiger Norfolk bandwagon in Wretton #NorfolkMoths
Plenty of Purple Hairstreaks on Stoke Ferry common yesterday evening, a bit less camera shy than those in my garden
June 21, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Plenty of Purple Hairstreaks on Stoke Ferry common yesterday evening, a bit less camera shy than those in my garden
A lone female Silver-washed Fritillary, constantly having to fend off the attention of the local Commas and Large Skippers at my regular site near Stoke Ferry this evening. First Ringlet and Small Skipper of the year too #NorfolkButterflies
June 19, 2025 at 5:31 PM
A lone female Silver-washed Fritillary, constantly having to fend off the attention of the local Commas and Large Skippers at my regular site near Stoke Ferry this evening. First Ringlet and Small Skipper of the year too #NorfolkButterflies
And they're back! Over 3 weeks since my last sightings from the hide @ NWT Weeting. Hopefully ready for another nesting attempt. Also nice to find a Snakefly #NorfolkBirding
May 31, 2025 at 2:26 PM
And they're back! Over 3 weeks since my last sightings from the hide @ NWT Weeting. Hopefully ready for another nesting attempt. Also nice to find a Snakefly #NorfolkBirding
Surprise addition to the garden list this morning. Just have to hope it becomes self-sustaining.
March 5, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Surprise addition to the garden list this morning. Just have to hope it becomes self-sustaining.
Big movement of Red-throated Divers off Holme this morning, with 80+ passing in an hour, including a group of 23. Otherwise, highlight of the day was 10 Snow Buntings among the strandline debris, at very close range #norfolkbirding
February 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Big movement of Red-throated Divers off Holme this morning, with 80+ passing in an hour, including a group of 23. Otherwise, highlight of the day was 10 Snow Buntings among the strandline debris, at very close range #norfolkbirding
No NYD local big day for the first time in over a decade, due to the weather, which also kept feeders quiet. Sedentary approach did yield 3 NY day list 'bogeys': Coal Tit, Jay and Sparrowhawk. Calmer conditions later on and wind in right direction meant Cranes could be heard from the house.
January 2, 2025 at 6:35 PM
No NYD local big day for the first time in over a decade, due to the weather, which also kept feeders quiet. Sedentary approach did yield 3 NY day list 'bogeys': Coal Tit, Jay and Sparrowhawk. Calmer conditions later on and wind in right direction meant Cranes could be heard from the house.
Final visit to the patch this afternoon, and one last patch year tick, as a Woodcock crashed out of the hawthorns lining the path. Enjoyed Cranes and Whooper Swans in the late afternoon sunshine, before a spectacular sunset, with Common Seal a surprise patch mammal tick #NorfolkBirding
December 30, 2024 at 7:57 PM
Final visit to the patch this afternoon, and one last patch year tick, as a Woodcock crashed out of the hawthorns lining the path. Enjoyed Cranes and Whooper Swans in the late afternoon sunshine, before a spectacular sunset, with Common Seal a surprise patch mammal tick #NorfolkBirding
Got the photo for this year's Christmas card sorted #NorfolkBirding
December 12, 2024 at 4:20 PM
Got the photo for this year's Christmas card sorted #NorfolkBirding
Finally made the effort to add Starling to the photographic year list this morning...
November 29, 2024 at 10:17 AM
Finally made the effort to add Starling to the photographic year list this morning...
Nice day at Holme. This male Merlin made sure that there weren't any Snow Buntings or Shore Larks to be found at the E end of the beach. Also found out that a Jack Snipe is not phased by opening a can of drink, or eating a packed lunch.
November 15, 2024 at 7:10 PM
Nice day at Holme. This male Merlin made sure that there weren't any Snow Buntings or Shore Larks to be found at the E end of the beach. Also found out that a Jack Snipe is not phased by opening a can of drink, or eating a packed lunch.
Really nice photo of a twig, along the dunes between Holme and Old Hunstanton yesterday. Shame about the bird photo bombing it though #uktwigs #ukbirding
November 8, 2024 at 10:16 AM
Really nice photo of a twig, along the dunes between Holme and Old Hunstanton yesterday. Shame about the bird photo bombing it though #uktwigs #ukbirding
A quick viz-mig session from home this morning between 7 and 8 am added 2 species to the garden list, both of which were patch year ticks. Firstly, a Merlin (prob. a male) shot over, and then I joined the Hawfinch party, with a single bird picked up visually, confirmed by audio on Merlin #ukbirding
November 3, 2024 at 10:59 AM
A quick viz-mig session from home this morning between 7 and 8 am added 2 species to the garden list, both of which were patch year ticks. Firstly, a Merlin (prob. a male) shot over, and then I joined the Hawfinch party, with a single bird picked up visually, confirmed by audio on Merlin #ukbirding
Day 2 of 5 at Holme. May have peaked. Casually scanning a flock of roosting Ringed Plovers with bins, noticed one with a broken breastband. Scope views confirmed a juvenile Kentish Plover. Put the news out and then panicked that I'd mis-ID'd a juv LRP or something... #NorfolkBirding
October 22, 2024 at 6:38 PM
Day 2 of 5 at Holme. May have peaked. Casually scanning a flock of roosting Ringed Plovers with bins, noticed one with a broken breastband. Scope views confirmed a juvenile Kentish Plover. Put the news out and then panicked that I'd mis-ID'd a juv LRP or something... #NorfolkBirding
Day 1 of 5 planned for meandering around the Holme recording area. Started with a flythrough Richard's Pipit, ended with a Jack Snipe feeding out in the open at dusk. Other highlights: Short-eared Owl, Spoonbills, Peregrine, Lesser Whitethroat and a late Wheatear #NorfolkBirding
October 21, 2024 at 6:55 PM
Day 1 of 5 planned for meandering around the Holme recording area. Started with a flythrough Richard's Pipit, ended with a Jack Snipe feeding out in the open at dusk. Other highlights: Short-eared Owl, Spoonbills, Peregrine, Lesser Whitethroat and a late Wheatear #NorfolkBirding
Seemingly back and forth between the forestry and NOA all day at Holme. Finally got brief views of the Icterine Warbler: the Wryneck was eventually more cooperative.
September 7, 2024 at 7:01 PM
Seemingly back and forth between the forestry and NOA all day at Holme. Finally got brief views of the Icterine Warbler: the Wryneck was eventually more cooperative.
A couple of record shots from the past 2 days...
Merlin made it worth getting up on an otherwise washed out day helping out at Holme.
Juvenile White-tailed Eagle, apparently wild-born G625, a surprise overhead while looking for woodland species along the Little Ouse #ukbirding
Merlin made it worth getting up on an otherwise washed out day helping out at Holme.
Juvenile White-tailed Eagle, apparently wild-born G625, a surprise overhead while looking for woodland species along the Little Ouse #ukbirding
February 10, 2024 at 5:39 PM
A couple of record shots from the past 2 days...
Merlin made it worth getting up on an otherwise washed out day helping out at Holme.
Juvenile White-tailed Eagle, apparently wild-born G625, a surprise overhead while looking for woodland species along the Little Ouse #ukbirding
Merlin made it worth getting up on an otherwise washed out day helping out at Holme.
Juvenile White-tailed Eagle, apparently wild-born G625, a surprise overhead while looking for woodland species along the Little Ouse #ukbirding
Rain held off until after dark. Inland Norfolk (on foot, 20+ km walked) Jan 1st total of 83 bird species. Between 5 and 8 Short-eared Owls, Barn Owl, 5 Cranes, Scaup, Water Pipit, Peregrine - the headliners. No woodpeckers, very few waders. 2024 photographic year list now on 5.
January 1, 2024 at 7:23 PM