Author | Lightnews

Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · 11d

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 poor picture of a resting Clouded Yellow butterfly. Wretton, Norfolk 26/10/25.

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Aug 15

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 Bedstraw Hawkmoth feeding on Buddleia, Holme NOA, Norfolk, 15.8.25.

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Aug 14

A very pleasant walk out on patch this evening. A migrant Redstart being just one of the indicators that autumn is here #NorfolkBirding #NorfolkWildlife

Swallows gathering on power lines on an August evening, Wretton, Norfolk 14/8/25.

A female-type Common Redstart pausing on migration through inland Norfolk, Wretton 14/8/25.

A scrawny-looking Red Fox heading out to hunt in dry grassland, Wretton, Norfolk, 14/8/25.

Jay feeding on early autumn windfalls, Wretton, Norfolk, 14/8/25.

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Aug 8

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

Copulating Clouded Yellow butterflies, Holme Dunes NWT, 8th August 2025

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Jul 28

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

Antony Szmierek at Latitude 2025, secret set on Saturday night

Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Jul 19

Stone-curlews outnumbering visitors by 9:1 today at NWT Weeting. 1 pair on eggs, 1 pair with chick and 4 troublemakers #NorfolkBirding

3 Stone-curlews having a territorial dispute at NWT Weeting Heath

Calling Stone-curlew, NWT Weeting Heath, 19.07.25

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Jul 9

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.

Female/immature Black Darter, Dersingham Bog, Norfolk 9/7/25

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Jun 24

Just jumped onboard the Scarlet Tiger Norfolk bandwagon in Wretton #NorfolkMoths

Hurried photo of a Scarlet Tiger moth resting on Leylandii, Wretton, Norfolk, 24/06/25

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Jun 21

Plenty of Purple Hairstreaks on Stoke Ferry common yesterday evening, a bit less camera shy than those in my garden

Male Purple Hairstreak on ground, photograph of underside of wings, Stoke Ferry common, Norfolk 20/06/25

Male Purple Hairstreak basking on Ash leaves, Stoke Ferry common, Norfolk 20/06/25

Male Purple Hairstreak, Stoke Ferry common, Norfolk 20/06/25

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Jun 19

And now watching Purple Hairstreaks duelling around the top of a Sycamore, with a beer, in the garden in Wretton

Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Jun 19

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

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Jun 3

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

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · May 31

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

A distant adult Stone-curlew in the heat haze at NWT Weeting Heath

A Snakefly sp. at NWT Weeting Heath, 31.05.25

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · May 19

Do you know happen to know what time it was found? There was one at Wissington Beet Factory just before half 10 this morning. Same bird?

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · May 13

At least 5 along the 'Wretton Road' down from Boughton village yesterday evening (12/5). This is an inexplicable local hot-spot for the species for me, first seen there this year on 20/4.

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Mar 5

This one's probably from the hunting estate down the road. It's been touring the village gardens this week, apparently. I don't hold out much hope for it in the long term, having seen how it struggled with a chicken wire fence!

Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Mar 5

Surprise addition to the garden list this morning. Just have to hope it becomes self-sustaining.

Male Reeve's Pheasant, Wretton, Norfolk 05/03/25

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Feb 14

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

Snow Bunting on the beach at Holme Dunes NWT, Norfolk, 14.2.25

Snow Bunting on the beach at Holme Dunes NWT, 14.2.25

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Jan 18

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

Common Seal, Wretton cut-off channel, tens of miles from the sea, 18/01/25.

Part of a flock of Cranes, a total of 54 birds were counted, Wretton Fen, Norfolk, 18/01/25.

Whooper Swans loafing on a fenland flash, Wretton Fen, Norfolk 18/01/25.

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Jan 12

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

A drake Goosander on the cut-off channel, Wretton, Norfolk, 12/01/2025.

A Great White Egret flying overhead in murky skies, Wretton, Norfolk, 12/01/2025.

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Jan 2

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

Male Stonechat perched on a dead Thistle on afternoon sunshine. One of 4 seen on a walk around fields near Wretton 02/01/2025.

"I'm pretty sure he can't see me"
A Little Owl peeks out from behind the stable wall, Wretton 02/01/2025.

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Jan 2

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.

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Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Dec 30

*Final visit of the year (I'll probably go out there again next year!)

Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Dec 30

Finished the year with 137 bird spp on patch, pretty much average, with Arctic Tern the only new addition of the year. Generally a poor year for wader and passerine passage. Highlights included Spotted Flycatcher, Osprey, Black-necked Grebe and Hawfinch.

Ben Rackstraw @benracks.bsky.social · Dec 30

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

A group of Whooper Swans on a Fenland flash. Wretton 30/12/2024.

Four Cranes in flight in late winter afternoon sunshine. Wretton, 30/12/2024.

Pink sky at sunset over the fens, Wretton, 30/12/2024.

A terrible picture of the head of a young Common Seal, miles from the sea in the cut-off channel, at dusk, Wretton, 30/12/2024.

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