Ian Bennell
@ianbennell75.bsky.social
Birds, Moths, Watford FC, Weird Weather, Taxidermy and general moaning about things. Though not necessarily in that order. ❤️ Scilly
http://ianbennellsbirdingblog.blogspot.com
http://ianbennellsbirdingblog.blogspot.com
#BirdingGear has anyone bought a Baerskin fleece/waterproof shell combo and is it any good please?
November 17, 2025 at 6:52 PM
#BirdingGear has anyone bought a Baerskin fleece/waterproof shell combo and is it any good please?
Hello anybody there? 🤷🏻♂️
@support.bsky.team care to reply to my enquiry please?
@support.bsky.team I’ve got this message re private messaging. I can’t work out how/what to do to get it cleared. I don’t have another email account to add, I don’t want to change my handle or password and I’ve already added my date of birth. Help!
November 17, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Hello anybody there? 🤷🏻♂️
@support.bsky.team care to reply to my enquiry please?
@support.bsky.team I’ve got this message re private messaging. I can’t work out how/what to do to get it cleared. I don’t have another email account to add, I don’t want to change my handle or password and I’ve already added my date of birth. Help!
November 12, 2025 at 7:33 AM
@support.bsky.team care to reply to my enquiry please?
@support.bsky.team I’ve got this message re private messaging. I can’t work out how/what to do to get it cleared. I don’t have another email account to add, I don’t want to change my handle or password and I’ve already added my date of birth. Help!
November 7, 2025 at 3:51 PM
@support.bsky.team I’ve got this message re private messaging. I can’t work out how/what to do to get it cleared. I don’t have another email account to add, I don’t want to change my handle or password and I’ve already added my date of birth. Help!
20 years ago today I ticked Laughing Gull at Haslar Creek,Hants part of an influx of the species. Still my only one. Also a nice adult Ring-billed Gull at the same site. #ukbirding 🦉
November 6, 2025 at 8:14 PM
20 years ago today I ticked Laughing Gull at Haslar Creek,Hants part of an influx of the species. Still my only one. Also a nice adult Ring-billed Gull at the same site. #ukbirding 🦉
Just finished typing up my 2 week holiday on Scilly. Some light reading for you to help you sleep! Scroll to the bottom for chronological reading. #ukbirding 🦉
Ian Bennell's Birding Blog: October 2025 ianbennellsbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/
Ian Bennell's Birding Blog: October 2025 ianbennellsbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/
Ian Bennell's Birding Blog
Giving you all my latest sightings no matter how dull they are!!!!
ianbennellsbirdingblog.blogspot.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Just finished typing up my 2 week holiday on Scilly. Some light reading for you to help you sleep! Scroll to the bottom for chronological reading. #ukbirding 🦉
Ian Bennell's Birding Blog: October 2025 ianbennellsbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/
Ian Bennell's Birding Blog: October 2025 ianbennellsbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/
So 2 weeks on Scilly produced 129 species and with a couple of stops on the way home that rose to 142sp. The highlight of course Britain’s 7th Mourning Dove but daft numbers of Firecrest, Jack Snipe and Black Redstart were almost as impressive! Roll on next year. #ukbirding 🦉
October 25, 2025 at 2:51 PM
So 2 weeks on Scilly produced 129 species and with a couple of stops on the way home that rose to 142sp. The highlight of course Britain’s 7th Mourning Dove but daft numbers of Firecrest, Jack Snipe and Black Redstart were almost as impressive! Roll on next year. #ukbirding 🦉
So 2 weeks on Scilly produced 129 species and with a couple of stops on the way home that rose to 142sp. The highlight of course Britain’s 7th Mourning Dove but daft numbers of Firecrest, Jack Snipe and Black Redstart were almost as impressive! Roll on next year.
October 20, 2025 at 8:22 PM
So 2 weeks on Scilly produced 129 species and with a couple of stops on the way home that rose to 142sp. The highlight of course Britain’s 7th Mourning Dove but daft numbers of Firecrest, Jack Snipe and Black Redstart were almost as impressive! Roll on next year.
Extra extra read all about it. Scilly day 3 just ended with my 4th UK and 2nd Scilly record of American (Buff-bellied) Pipit on the Garrison. Here’s some digi-binned record shots!
October 5, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Extra extra read all about it. Scilly day 3 just ended with my 4th UK and 2nd Scilly record of American (Buff-bellied) Pipit on the Garrison. Here’s some digi-binned record shots!
Scilly day 3. A trip to St.Agnes today saw the monochrome Yellow Wagtail, Hoopoe + Whinchat around Periglis, a beast of a Peregrine over the campsite, the long staying Spotted Sandpiper at St.Warna Cove and a summer plumaged GN Diver in Porthcressa.
October 5, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Scilly day 3. A trip to St.Agnes today saw the monochrome Yellow Wagtail, Hoopoe + Whinchat around Periglis, a beast of a Peregrine over the campsite, the long staying Spotted Sandpiper at St.Warna Cove and a summer plumaged GN Diver in Porthcressa.
On Scilly again albeit a day earlier than expected produced 2 Arctic Skua and 4 Shearwater sp from the Scillonian then my first Scilly tick of the trip (hopefully not the last) with the Wilson’s Phalarope at Lower Moors. The Rosy Starling ended the day near my accommodation.
October 3, 2025 at 7:37 PM
On Scilly again albeit a day earlier than expected produced 2 Arctic Skua and 4 Shearwater sp from the Scillonian then my first Scilly tick of the trip (hopefully not the last) with the Wilson’s Phalarope at Lower Moors. The Rosy Starling ended the day near my accommodation.
Thanks to my lovely wife for dropping my optics to me I headed straight up to Wilstone where I quickly laid eyes on the 2 Red-throated Divers. A long time in coming Herts tick. Last record in 2012 was a flyover and before that in 2003 and 1997 so a rare beast here. #hertsbirds 🥳
September 26, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Thanks to my lovely wife for dropping my optics to me I headed straight up to Wilstone where I quickly laid eyes on the 2 Red-throated Divers. A long time in coming Herts tick. Last record in 2012 was a flyover and before that in 2003 and 1997 so a rare beast here. #hertsbirds 🥳
@nealmoss.bsky.social hi mate. You going to Scilly this year?
September 24, 2025 at 7:37 AM
@nealmoss.bsky.social hi mate. You going to Scilly this year?
6.9.25.
Despite clear and windy conditions I managed to trap 104 moths of 30 species.
Highlights were NFG Jersey Mocha (I trapped Herts 1st just up the road in 2016), my 2nd Clancy’s Rustic (I trapped Herts 2nd in 2018) and my 2nd Caloptilia honoratella (tbc). #teammoth
Despite clear and windy conditions I managed to trap 104 moths of 30 species.
Highlights were NFG Jersey Mocha (I trapped Herts 1st just up the road in 2016), my 2nd Clancy’s Rustic (I trapped Herts 2nd in 2018) and my 2nd Caloptilia honoratella (tbc). #teammoth
September 8, 2025 at 7:21 PM
6.9.25.
Despite clear and windy conditions I managed to trap 104 moths of 30 species.
Highlights were NFG Jersey Mocha (I trapped Herts 1st just up the road in 2016), my 2nd Clancy’s Rustic (I trapped Herts 2nd in 2018) and my 2nd Caloptilia honoratella (tbc). #teammoth
Despite clear and windy conditions I managed to trap 104 moths of 30 species.
Highlights were NFG Jersey Mocha (I trapped Herts 1st just up the road in 2016), my 2nd Clancy’s Rustic (I trapped Herts 2nd in 2018) and my 2nd Caloptilia honoratella (tbc). #teammoth
Just been to the pub for my 50th birthday dinner and they had a special area for me 😂
August 30, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Just been to the pub for my 50th birthday dinner and they had a special area for me 😂
An excellent day in East Anglia with Brendon Fagan and James Reader with Ruddy Shelduck, Caspian Gull and both adult Fan-tailed Warblers (no juvs seen) at Walberswick then a showy Barred Warbler at Winterton Dunes followed by the Black Stork at Boyton Marsh at the 2nd attempt.
August 24, 2025 at 6:55 PM
An excellent day in East Anglia with Brendon Fagan and James Reader with Ruddy Shelduck, Caspian Gull and both adult Fan-tailed Warblers (no juvs seen) at Walberswick then a showy Barred Warbler at Winterton Dunes followed by the Black Stork at Boyton Marsh at the 2nd attempt.
Home from a great day to Norfolk/Herts with Brendon Fagan. Started with White Stork at Welney then Pectoral Sandpiper, 23 Spoonbill and 5 Turtle Dove at Snettisham and finished at Rye Meads for my first Night Heron since 2012.
July 27, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Home from a great day to Norfolk/Herts with Brendon Fagan. Started with White Stork at Welney then Pectoral Sandpiper, 23 Spoonbill and 5 Turtle Dove at Snettisham and finished at Rye Meads for my first Night Heron since 2012.
7 Crossbill just gone W/NWish over Cassiobury Park #hertsbirds
July 22, 2025 at 1:30 PM
7 Crossbill just gone W/NWish over Cassiobury Park #hertsbirds
11.7.25.
579 moths of 104 species.
Highlights were Herts 3rd Blastobasis rebeli (I also trapped the 2nd in 2022!) and Herts 4th Moitrelia obductella.
Garden 2nd records of Epinotia nisella, Yellow-tail and Plain Pug were also notable. #teammoth
579 moths of 104 species.
Highlights were Herts 3rd Blastobasis rebeli (I also trapped the 2nd in 2022!) and Herts 4th Moitrelia obductella.
Garden 2nd records of Epinotia nisella, Yellow-tail and Plain Pug were also notable. #teammoth
July 13, 2025 at 2:36 PM
11.7.25.
579 moths of 104 species.
Highlights were Herts 3rd Blastobasis rebeli (I also trapped the 2nd in 2022!) and Herts 4th Moitrelia obductella.
Garden 2nd records of Epinotia nisella, Yellow-tail and Plain Pug were also notable. #teammoth
579 moths of 104 species.
Highlights were Herts 3rd Blastobasis rebeli (I also trapped the 2nd in 2022!) and Herts 4th Moitrelia obductella.
Garden 2nd records of Epinotia nisella, Yellow-tail and Plain Pug were also notable. #teammoth
30.6.25.
A whopping garden record count of 2,489 moths (2000+ of which Ermine sp) of 103 species. Nowt new but garden 2nd Dewick’s Plusia, 4th Dusky Sallow, 7th Small Emerald and 10th Anarsia innoxiella were notable + of course Britain’s 19th Nothochrysa fulviceps #teammoth
A whopping garden record count of 2,489 moths (2000+ of which Ermine sp) of 103 species. Nowt new but garden 2nd Dewick’s Plusia, 4th Dusky Sallow, 7th Small Emerald and 10th Anarsia innoxiella were notable + of course Britain’s 19th Nothochrysa fulviceps #teammoth
July 6, 2025 at 12:01 PM
30.6.25.
A whopping garden record count of 2,489 moths (2000+ of which Ermine sp) of 103 species. Nowt new but garden 2nd Dewick’s Plusia, 4th Dusky Sallow, 7th Small Emerald and 10th Anarsia innoxiella were notable + of course Britain’s 19th Nothochrysa fulviceps #teammoth
A whopping garden record count of 2,489 moths (2000+ of which Ermine sp) of 103 species. Nowt new but garden 2nd Dewick’s Plusia, 4th Dusky Sallow, 7th Small Emerald and 10th Anarsia innoxiella were notable + of course Britain’s 19th Nothochrysa fulviceps #teammoth
So on Monday night in my moth trap was this beastie. It’s a female Nothochrysa fulviceps or Red-headed Lacewing. Turns out from current records it’s about the 19th for Britain! How ironic that the rarest thing to grace my moth trap isn’t a moth 😂
July 3, 2025 at 12:17 PM
So on Monday night in my moth trap was this beastie. It’s a female Nothochrysa fulviceps or Red-headed Lacewing. Turns out from current records it’s about the 19th for Britain! How ironic that the rarest thing to grace my moth trap isn’t a moth 😂
21.6.25. 718 moths of 129 species.
A garden record count of species but only 1 NFG that being a female Four-spotted Footman. 2-3rd Pyrausta purpuralis, 2nd Hedya salicella + Mompha ochraceella and 3rd European Corn-borer the other main highlights. #teammoth
A garden record count of species but only 1 NFG that being a female Four-spotted Footman. 2-3rd Pyrausta purpuralis, 2nd Hedya salicella + Mompha ochraceella and 3rd European Corn-borer the other main highlights. #teammoth
June 23, 2025 at 6:27 PM
21.6.25. 718 moths of 129 species.
A garden record count of species but only 1 NFG that being a female Four-spotted Footman. 2-3rd Pyrausta purpuralis, 2nd Hedya salicella + Mompha ochraceella and 3rd European Corn-borer the other main highlights. #teammoth
A garden record count of species but only 1 NFG that being a female Four-spotted Footman. 2-3rd Pyrausta purpuralis, 2nd Hedya salicella + Mompha ochraceella and 3rd European Corn-borer the other main highlights. #teammoth