Ben Lewis
@benlewisuk.bsky.social
Birder, Moth-er, I have an interest in all wildlife and its identification, Pan species lister (newbie), Manager of fen and wetland habitats. Gardener, fishing, father, husband, Jack Russell owner, weather enthusiast…
September 30, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Seems a bad evolutionary link for a rare butterfly larva to eat a rare plant’s flowers and seeds. (Swallowtail Butterfly). Still a few adults flying now too.
July 31, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Seems a bad evolutionary link for a rare butterfly larva to eat a rare plant’s flowers and seeds. (Swallowtail Butterfly). Still a few adults flying now too.
A quick foray into the fen to carry out some swallowtail larval counts yielded 2 new species for me, an amazing Musk Beetle and the planthopper Stenocranus longipennis
July 21, 2025 at 4:57 PM
A quick foray into the fen to carry out some swallowtail larval counts yielded 2 new species for me, an amazing Musk Beetle and the planthopper Stenocranus longipennis
Busy week of identifying specimens from Franchises Lodge, about 260 species (exc moths) identified and the target of better understanding invertebrate identification achieved. A few more pots to go next week and then a big write up required.
July 11, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Busy week of identifying specimens from Franchises Lodge, about 260 species (exc moths) identified and the target of better understanding invertebrate identification achieved. A few more pots to go next week and then a big write up required.
Can anyone confirm this grasshopper from New Forest? It’s the only photo I have, dark marks appear to reach rear of pronotum suggesting Heath, but can’t convince myself… thanks!
July 11, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Can anyone confirm this grasshopper from New Forest? It’s the only photo I have, dark marks appear to reach rear of pronotum suggesting Heath, but can’t convince myself… thanks!
This ‘Masked Hunter’ must’ve been enjoying breakfast in my moth trap today as it was packed full of bycatch . Can’t see scale in the pic but it’s a very large bug at ~2cm!
June 29, 2025 at 11:54 AM
This ‘Masked Hunter’ must’ve been enjoying breakfast in my moth trap today as it was packed full of bycatch . Can’t see scale in the pic but it’s a very large bug at ~2cm!
This is looking good for Langmaids Yellow Underwing isn’t it??
June 29, 2025 at 10:31 AM
This is looking good for Langmaids Yellow Underwing isn’t it??
Apart from the caddisflies and lacewings, which are still to identify this moth trap ‘intruder’ was most welcome, the spectacular cranefly Ctenophora ornata, what a beast!
June 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Apart from the caddisflies and lacewings, which are still to identify this moth trap ‘intruder’ was most welcome, the spectacular cranefly Ctenophora ornata, what a beast!
I was very pleased to see 4 new Orthoptera species too, enjoyed getting to grips with the hoppers again.. always fun to stalk!
June 28, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I was very pleased to see 4 new Orthoptera species too, enjoyed getting to grips with the hoppers again.. always fun to stalk!
Some migrants too for @migrantmothuk.bsky.social 2 Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Migrant Sable), 1 Splendid Brocade, and small numbers of Silver y’s, RDPs, diamondbacks
June 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Some migrants too for @migrantmothuk.bsky.social 2 Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Migrant Sable), 1 Splendid Brocade, and small numbers of Silver y’s, RDPs, diamondbacks
Some summer green and I finally got my Goat!
June 28, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Some summer green and I finally got my Goat!
Back from a great week at rspb’s Franchises Lodge in Wiltshire, primarily to record moths but also try to ID as many inverts as I could. I’ll put together a few messages with the highlights over the coming weeks as I get through the specimens…
June 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Back from a great week at rspb’s Franchises Lodge in Wiltshire, primarily to record moths but also try to ID as many inverts as I could. I’ll put together a few messages with the highlights over the coming weeks as I get through the specimens…
Nice to see a Red-Tipped Clearwing (no lure) feeding on Marsh Valerian at Surlingham yesterday, my first clearwing of the year.
June 11, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Nice to see a Red-Tipped Clearwing (no lure) feeding on Marsh Valerian at Surlingham yesterday, my first clearwing of the year.
135 species in the Strumpshaw moth trap this morning was a very good start to the day, a couple new for the reserve too! My highlight however was the bycatch, 15 new species for me there..
June 1, 2025 at 8:32 PM
135 species in the Strumpshaw moth trap this morning was a very good start to the day, a couple new for the reserve too! My highlight however was the bycatch, 15 new species for me there..
Nice morning at Titchwell looking at reedbed management with Ryan. Also got a few nice sightings while there- Dune Tiger Beetle (beauty!), Marram Weevil, an apparent Gynnidomorpha vectisana and a couple of juv Spoonbills.
May 27, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Nice morning at Titchwell looking at reedbed management with Ryan. Also got a few nice sightings while there- Dune Tiger Beetle (beauty!), Marram Weevil, an apparent Gynnidomorpha vectisana and a couple of juv Spoonbills.
I stumbled upon one there in early March this year, little stunners!
May 18, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I stumbled upon one there in early March this year, little stunners!
Pleasant afternoon at Buxton Heath, some nice bugs, beetles, weevils and hoppers seen and even a well overdue new species of macro moth.
May 17, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Pleasant afternoon at Buxton Heath, some nice bugs, beetles, weevils and hoppers seen and even a well overdue new species of macro moth.
Finally added Water Ladybird to my PSL at Buckenham this afternoon. Gaining slowly but steadily with 2011sp now…. And enjoying it!
April 26, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Finally added Water Ladybird to my PSL at Buckenham this afternoon. Gaining slowly but steadily with 2011sp now…. And enjoying it!
4 interlopers with the Highlands yesterday (just 1 in the picture). Amazing how quick you can get used to these once very rare birds… now seemingly part of the scenery
February 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
4 interlopers with the Highlands yesterday (just 1 in the picture). Amazing how quick you can get used to these once very rare birds… now seemingly part of the scenery
46 Marsh Harriers and 1 Hen Harrier left the roost @rspbstrumpshawfen.bsky.social at dawn this morning. First few hints of spring with Reed Buntings piping up and starting to sing.
February 1, 2025 at 5:45 PM
46 Marsh Harriers and 1 Hen Harrier left the roost @rspbstrumpshawfen.bsky.social at dawn this morning. First few hints of spring with Reed Buntings piping up and starting to sing.
Looks like I saw some Mammatus clouds over Catfield Fen Norfolk this afternoon,? Some crazy rain and hail was associated!
January 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Looks like I saw some Mammatus clouds over Catfield Fen Norfolk this afternoon,? Some crazy rain and hail was associated!
Is this a Collared Earthstar (without a collar) or something else? Can’t convince myself of ID using my field guide… @rspbstrumpshawfen.bsky.social yesterday, along the pumphouse track by the gate to meadow.
January 17, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Is this a Collared Earthstar (without a collar) or something else? Can’t convince myself of ID using my field guide… @rspbstrumpshawfen.bsky.social yesterday, along the pumphouse track by the gate to meadow.
Todays adventures had me monitoring scrub at a rather monochrome Catfield Fen and back at the fen the cattle have finally produced a Cattle Egret.
January 8, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Todays adventures had me monitoring scrub at a rather monochrome Catfield Fen and back at the fen the cattle have finally produced a Cattle Egret.
Between 38 and 42 marsh harriers up in the air at once in this evenings roost at Strumpshaw Fen. Likely to be 50+ birds in the area at the moment, quite a spectacle
December 18, 2024 at 6:21 PM
Between 38 and 42 marsh harriers up in the air at once in this evenings roost at Strumpshaw Fen. Likely to be 50+ birds in the area at the moment, quite a spectacle