Ben Rackstraw
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benracks.bsky.social
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
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 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 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
August 8, 2025 at 6:43 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
July 28, 2025 at 7:44 PM
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
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
Just jumped onboard the Scarlet Tiger Norfolk bandwagon in Wretton #NorfolkMoths
June 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM
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
Hi Dave, this is the only other photo. Specimen may still be at Weeting NWT - I'll check with James tomorrow. NB. ObsIdentify app was fairly certain of ID as A.maculicollus
June 3, 2025 at 9:13 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
May 31, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Surprise addition to the garden list this morning. Just have to hope it becomes self-sustaining.
March 5, 2025 at 9:50 AM
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
Headed out to check on an occasional gull roost in the hope of finally securing LBbG for the year list. Not a single gull came in. Had to make do with a few Whoopers and doubling my patch record count for Cranes, with 54 coming in. The seal was still in the cut-off channel #NorfolkBirding
January 18, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Checked the field drains and channels near the house during the big freeze this weekend. Yesterday, with visibility no more than 20m due to fog, managed a Water Rail and 2 Snipe. This morning a Green Sandpiper, and a couple of photo opps along the cut-off channel #NorfolkBirding
January 12, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Didn't feel motivated to do a big day now it's not Jan 1st, so a leisurely afternoon walk out concentrating on the local farmland spp., which now include Stonechat #NorfolkBirding
January 2, 2025 at 6:41 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
December 30, 2024 at 7:57 PM
Got the photo for this year's Christmas card sorted #NorfolkBirding
December 12, 2024 at 4:20 PM
Finally made the effort to add Starling to the photographic year list this morning...
November 29, 2024 at 10:17 AM
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
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
Once it got up and started running around again, all fears of mis-ID proved unfounded! #NorfolkBirding
October 22, 2024 at 6:47 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
October 21, 2024 at 6:55 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.
September 7, 2024 at 7:01 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
February 10, 2024 at 5:39 PM