Ben Eaton
@benjeaton.bsky.social
Ladywalk & Sutton Park (Warks/West Mids) birder, moth-er and conservation volunteer. Gardener.
A Ladywalk mega Curlew Sandpiper coincided with my Webs count today. Possibly the first in my lifetime! Seemed settled in front of Bittern Hide but disappeared mid afternoon. Jack Snipe also briefly close by. #ladywalknr #warksbirds
October 14, 2025 at 4:27 PM
A Ladywalk mega Curlew Sandpiper coincided with my Webs count today. Possibly the first in my lifetime! Seemed settled in front of Bittern Hide but disappeared mid afternoon. Jack Snipe also briefly close by. #ladywalknr #warksbirds
Dried off and went back for more! Still present late afternoon. Shustoke Res. #warksbirding
September 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Dried off and went back for more! Still present late afternoon. Shustoke Res. #warksbirding
Lovely Spotted Redshank again at far end of Shustoke Res this am. 2+ Tree Pipits, 5 Yellow Wags, 6 Common & 1 Green Sand, juv Common Tern. Tons of hirundines #warksbirding @birdguides.bsky.social
September 4, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Lovely Spotted Redshank again at far end of Shustoke Res this am. 2+ Tree Pipits, 5 Yellow Wags, 6 Common & 1 Green Sand, juv Common Tern. Tons of hirundines #warksbirding @birdguides.bsky.social
Warbler waves aplenty at #SuttonPark, West Mids early this am. 4+ Tree Pipits, Yellow Wag & 4 Snipe high south over Upper Crabs. 4 Redstarts, 2 Spot Fly, 4 Swallow, Swift. #ukbirding
August 22, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Warbler waves aplenty at #SuttonPark, West Mids early this am. 4+ Tree Pipits, Yellow Wag & 4 Snipe high south over Upper Crabs. 4 Redstarts, 2 Spot Fly, 4 Swallow, Swift. #ukbirding
Better urban mothing last night (Erdington, B’ham). A nice Dusky Thorn. Annoyingly, my second Tree-lichen Beauty of the year got away. 20 Vine’s Rustics maybe a record. #teammoth
August 19, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Better urban mothing last night (Erdington, B’ham). A nice Dusky Thorn. Annoyingly, my second Tree-lichen Beauty of the year got away. 20 Vine’s Rustics maybe a record. #teammoth
A PB of 10+ Tree Pipits over at #SuttonPark, West Mids this am. The first two Spot Flys of the autumn, Whinchat, 6 Redstarts, 2 Lesser Whites & Hobby. #westmidsbirding
August 15, 2025 at 2:41 PM
A PB of 10+ Tree Pipits over at #SuttonPark, West Mids this am. The first two Spot Flys of the autumn, Whinchat, 6 Redstarts, 2 Lesser Whites & Hobby. #westmidsbirding
I know nothing about spiders. What have I got here? Found him looking comfy in a plant pot inside my van. #ukspiders
August 13, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I know nothing about spiders. What have I got here? Found him looking comfy in a plant pot inside my van. #ukspiders
Fresh morning at #SuttonPark, West Mids. 1+ Crossbill roaming around Queen’s Coppice. 3 Tree Pipits buzzed south, Yellow Wag on flying field, just the single Redstart, Lesser White and a few Garden Warblers. #ukbirding
August 9, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Fresh morning at #SuttonPark, West Mids. 1+ Crossbill roaming around Queen’s Coppice. 3 Tree Pipits buzzed south, Yellow Wag on flying field, just the single Redstart, Lesser White and a few Garden Warblers. #ukbirding
A good turn out last night for the bat walk at #LadywalkNR, Warks. Soprano & Common Pips, Noctule, Brown Long-eared & Daubenton’s enjoyed. Tree-lichen Beauty in the morning was new for the reserve too.
August 2, 2025 at 8:29 AM
A good turn out last night for the bat walk at #LadywalkNR, Warks. Soprano & Common Pips, Noctule, Brown Long-eared & Daubenton’s enjoyed. Tree-lichen Beauty in the morning was new for the reserve too.
I’ve sneaked some ornamental weeds for #teammoth into a client’s garden. They’ve struggled with the drought but the ‘Album’ form of Rosebay Willowherb is useful as it spreads well but doesn’t self seed. And some interesting harvests this week…
July 25, 2025 at 8:02 PM
I’ve sneaked some ornamental weeds for #teammoth into a client’s garden. They’ve struggled with the drought but the ‘Album’ form of Rosebay Willowherb is useful as it spreads well but doesn’t self seed. And some interesting harvests this week…
Mothing at #LadywalkNR brought nothing unexpected. 4 Fen Wainscots are the most I’ve seen here. Slender Brindle & Box-tree Moth were gaps filled on the list. Down the road though in Chelmsley Wood (Birmingham), mom finds a Jersey Tiger whilst watering the garden! Colonised now locally? #teammoth
July 12, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Mothing at #LadywalkNR brought nothing unexpected. 4 Fen Wainscots are the most I’ve seen here. Slender Brindle & Box-tree Moth were gaps filled on the list. Down the road though in Chelmsley Wood (Birmingham), mom finds a Jersey Tiger whilst watering the garden! Colonised now locally? #teammoth
My iPhone 13’s macro is pretty poor. So my first crude attempt at macro with my Opticron hand lens attached! 3 new micros for the garden last night (Erdington, Birmingham) #teammoth
June 20, 2025 at 1:22 PM
My iPhone 13’s macro is pretty poor. So my first crude attempt at macro with my Opticron hand lens attached! 3 new micros for the garden last night (Erdington, Birmingham) #teammoth
First go of the year at #LadywalkNR, Warwickshire. Clear at first and a bit breezier than hoped. Orange Footman added to the reserve list and Dark Sword-grass unexpected. #teammoth #mothsmatter
May 17, 2025 at 8:01 AM
First go of the year at #LadywalkNR, Warwickshire. Clear at first and a bit breezier than hoped. Orange Footman added to the reserve list and Dark Sword-grass unexpected. #teammoth #mothsmatter
Lapland Bunting feeding in shadow of boat on coastal path between Blakeney & Cley #norfolkbirds @birdguides.bsky.social
March 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Lapland Bunting feeding in shadow of boat on coastal path between Blakeney & Cley #norfolkbirds @birdguides.bsky.social
Merlin over Kenilworth Road fields between Hampton-in-Arden & Meriden. #westmidsbirding
January 24, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Merlin over Kenilworth Road fields between Hampton-in-Arden & Meriden. #westmidsbirding
Caught up with the Bittern today @ladywalknr.bsky.social. On the ice between 3-3:30 and then again later on. View from Bittern Hide. The White-front flock flew out north at 2pm. GWE, 6 Mandarins, 40 Siskin. #ladywalknr #warksbirding
January 14, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Caught up with the Bittern today @ladywalknr.bsky.social. On the ice between 3-3:30 and then again later on. View from Bittern Hide. The White-front flock flew out north at 2pm. GWE, 6 Mandarins, 40 Siskin. #ladywalknr #warksbirding
14+ Chiffs at Edison Rd this afternoon. Another 15 or so at eon/blythe meadows inc a good looking Sibe type. Female Marsh Harrier roosted at Ladywalk in the main reedbed, GWE & 12 Mandarin (9m,3f). #ladywalknr #warksbirding
January 10, 2025 at 5:56 PM
14+ Chiffs at Edison Rd this afternoon. Another 15 or so at eon/blythe meadows inc a good looking Sibe type. Female Marsh Harrier roosted at Ladywalk in the main reedbed, GWE & 12 Mandarin (9m,3f). #ladywalknr #warksbirding
The Tundra Bean obliged this afternoon after disappearing yesterday, though asleep most of the time! A patch tick. GWE & 16 Shelduck on B pools. Pair of Mandarin from Hide A. #Ladywalknr #warksbirding
December 21, 2024 at 3:36 PM
The Tundra Bean obliged this afternoon after disappearing yesterday, though asleep most of the time! A patch tick. GWE & 16 Shelduck on B pools. Pair of Mandarin from Hide A. #Ladywalknr #warksbirding
Happy with our impulse day out to Bempton & Flamborough. Glorious sunshine & fab views of Isabelline Shrike sp, OBP, Icky & RB Flys. #ukbirding
October 3, 2024 at 7:59 PM
Happy with our impulse day out to Bempton & Flamborough. Glorious sunshine & fab views of Isabelline Shrike sp, OBP, Icky & RB Flys. #ukbirding
Peaceful day in Burnham Overy Dunes/Holkham Pines. 2 Pied Fly, 8 Whinchat, 4 Wheatear, 3 Redstart, Tree Pipit, Lesser White, Acro sp., Hobby. #norfolkbirding #ukbirding
September 5, 2024 at 8:18 PM
Peaceful day in Burnham Overy Dunes/Holkham Pines. 2 Pied Fly, 8 Whinchat, 4 Wheatear, 3 Redstart, Tree Pipit, Lesser White, Acro sp., Hobby. #norfolkbirding #ukbirding
Garganey on Main Pool, 3 Hobby (2ad,juv), 4 Common Sand, 2 Green Sand, 107 Lapwing, 63 Teal. #LadywalkNR #ukbirding
August 27, 2024 at 10:50 AM
Garganey on Main Pool, 3 Hobby (2ad,juv), 4 Common Sand, 2 Green Sand, 107 Lapwing, 63 Teal. #LadywalkNR #ukbirding
Beautiful morning in Sutton Park.
2 Wheatear on flying field. 1-2 Tree Pipit & Yellow Wag over. 8 Redstarts (inc a female with a white tail feather, still present from Wed), 16 Blackcap, 10 Whitethroat, 2 Stonechat, c20 Swifts, 15 Swallows, 2 H Martins. #wmbirds #ukbirding
2 Wheatear on flying field. 1-2 Tree Pipit & Yellow Wag over. 8 Redstarts (inc a female with a white tail feather, still present from Wed), 16 Blackcap, 10 Whitethroat, 2 Stonechat, c20 Swifts, 15 Swallows, 2 H Martins. #wmbirds #ukbirding
August 25, 2024 at 9:17 AM
Beautiful morning in Sutton Park.
2 Wheatear on flying field. 1-2 Tree Pipit & Yellow Wag over. 8 Redstarts (inc a female with a white tail feather, still present from Wed), 16 Blackcap, 10 Whitethroat, 2 Stonechat, c20 Swifts, 15 Swallows, 2 H Martins. #wmbirds #ukbirding
2 Wheatear on flying field. 1-2 Tree Pipit & Yellow Wag over. 8 Redstarts (inc a female with a white tail feather, still present from Wed), 16 Blackcap, 10 Whitethroat, 2 Stonechat, c20 Swifts, 15 Swallows, 2 H Martins. #wmbirds #ukbirding