Ben Rackstraw
@benracks.bsky.social
Birding and general nature seeker in West Norfolk. Mainly on foot.
An afternoon checking out drains and dungheaps (no, I didn't walk to King's Lynn) for #FootIt. Didn't find any Green Sandpipers, but did add both partridges to my total, now on 89.
January 7, 2026 at 6:43 PM
An afternoon checking out drains and dungheaps (no, I didn't walk to King's Lynn) for #FootIt. Didn't find any Green Sandpipers, but did add both partridges to my total, now on 89.
Back to work today. Still managed to boost the #FootIt total by 1 to 87, with overhead Pink-footed Geese heard at 5.45pm on my 10 metre commute from the office to the back door.
January 5, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Back to work today. Still managed to boost the #FootIt total by 1 to 87, with overhead Pink-footed Geese heard at 5.45pm on my 10 metre commute from the office to the back door.
After a day off yesterday, making my debut for the NOA sponsored birdwatch around Holme and Titchwell, back to #FootIt today. Walk round my usual running route yielded 5 additions, total now 86. Best were 11 Corn Buntings in amongst 80+ Yellowhammers and a drake Goosander on the cut #NorfolkBirding
January 3, 2026 at 5:30 PM
After a day off yesterday, making my debut for the NOA sponsored birdwatch around Holme and Titchwell, back to #FootIt today. Walk round my usual running route yielded 5 additions, total now 86. Best were 11 Corn Buntings in amongst 80+ Yellowhammers and a drake Goosander on the cut #NorfolkBirding
26 km walked for 81 spp. Most of the local specials went missing for the day, and I somehow managed to avoid both House Sparrow and Starling. Highlights were 16 Bewick's Swans, 2 Cattle Egrets, Marsh Tit, Peregrine, plenty of Redpolls
#footit #NorfolkBirding
#footit #NorfolkBirding
January 1, 2026 at 5:59 PM
26 km walked for 81 spp. Most of the local specials went missing for the day, and I somehow managed to avoid both House Sparrow and Starling. Highlights were 16 Bewick's Swans, 2 Cattle Egrets, Marsh Tit, Peregrine, plenty of Redpolls
#footit #NorfolkBirding
#footit #NorfolkBirding
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
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 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 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 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 very pleasant walk out on patch this evening. A migrant Redstart being just one of the indicators that autumn is here #NorfolkBirding #NorfolkWildlife
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
#NorfolkButterflies
August 8, 2025 at 6:43 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
#NorfolkButterflies
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
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
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
Stone-curlews outnumbering visitors by 9:1 today at NWT Weeting. 1 pair on eggs, 1 pair with chick and 4 troublemakers #NorfolkBirding
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
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.
Just jumped onboard the Scarlet Tiger Norfolk bandwagon in Wretton #NorfolkMoths
June 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Just jumped onboard the Scarlet Tiger Norfolk bandwagon in Wretton #NorfolkMoths
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
Plenty of Purple Hairstreaks on Stoke Ferry common yesterday evening, a bit less camera shy than those in my garden
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
June 19, 2025 at 5:31 PM
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
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
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
Surprise addition to the garden list this morning. Just have to hope it becomes self-sustaining.
March 5, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Surprise addition to the garden list this morning. Just have to hope it becomes self-sustaining.
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
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
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.
January 2, 2025 at 6:35 PM
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.
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
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
Got the photo for this year's Christmas card sorted #NorfolkBirding
December 12, 2024 at 4:20 PM
Got the photo for this year's Christmas card sorted #NorfolkBirding
Finally made the effort to add Starling to the photographic year list this morning...
November 29, 2024 at 10:17 AM
Finally made the effort to add Starling to the photographic year list this morning...
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
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.
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
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
A quick viz-mig session from home this morning between 7 and 8 am added 2 species to the garden list, both of which were patch year ticks. Firstly, a Merlin (prob. a male) shot over, and then I joined the Hawfinch party, with a single bird picked up visually, confirmed by audio on Merlin #ukbirding
November 3, 2024 at 10:59 AM
A quick viz-mig session from home this morning between 7 and 8 am added 2 species to the garden list, both of which were patch year ticks. Firstly, a Merlin (prob. a male) shot over, and then I joined the Hawfinch party, with a single bird picked up visually, confirmed by audio on Merlin #ukbirding
Day 2 of 5 at Holme. May have peaked. Casually scanning a flock of roosting Ringed Plovers with bins, noticed one with a broken breastband. Scope views confirmed a juvenile Kentish Plover. Put the news out and then panicked that I'd mis-ID'd a juv LRP or something... #NorfolkBirding
October 22, 2024 at 6:38 PM
Day 2 of 5 at Holme. May have peaked. Casually scanning a flock of roosting Ringed Plovers with bins, noticed one with a broken breastband. Scope views confirmed a juvenile Kentish Plover. Put the news out and then panicked that I'd mis-ID'd a juv LRP or something... #NorfolkBirding