Ben Lewis

@saunt_mick Three were seen this afternoon flying over Strumpshaw Fen at 2ish?, same birds probably having a bit of a tour

An unexpected year tick early afternoon on the outskirts of Attleborough when these 3 Cranes blogged up from the south before spiralling up and heading off east. 2025 year list now up to a very impressive 21 🙂

I’ve left Twitter for a better place, I’ll be posting much more frequently there in the coming weeks/months and will delete this account soon. @benlewisuk.bsky.social

A bit of much needed #Therapy? tonight before what could be a rather stressful week. 🎶🎸🤘

@PaulEele That Cunha goal was a bit special!

Back for more punishment At least the masala chips are a winner

@JLowenWildlife I think dads up to 4 now! If the one I saw on here photographed at Watermill was from his trap. I think they are all stopping there this year 🤣

One on St Mary’s today - missing the Bryher traps by a few miles.

The Daily Moth 1,280. @beardybirder @ipterodroma @keith_langdon have just two nights left on Scilly to make my FOMO real. Writing this a week ahead, the one I’m clearly paranoid that they will catch is Atropos – Death’s-head Hawk-moth. My knees would weaken… #MuchAdoAboutMothing

Tried my garden sieve on a few reed piles at Sutton fen the other day, it’s quite an effective method for Staphs etc. Any recommendations for a proper entomological sieve with collection tray? Are 5mm gaps best or smaller?

@BroadGavin @TimBlackburn66 Thanks Gavin. I did wonder if it was this but had limited resources. Thanks for the confirmation 👍

Can anyone help with an ID of this apparent colourful Ichneumon species. I’d usually let it go with one image but the AI is coming up with a possible rare species not seen in Norfolk since 1939. I don’t currently have a guide. Thanks

Hell yeah! ✅

Been so long since I’ve tweeted, will start again… Here’s a lovely little jumping spider wearing sunglasses from Friday. I believe it’s Marpissa radiata (?) found in fen habitat.

Know anyone who might be interested in watching 35+ Marsh Harrier in the air together, as happened on one of last year's walks!? Please share with anyone interested @wvbs1 @RSPB_Strumpshaw @themarshtit @NorfolkNats @Ben_Lewis_uk events.rspb.org.uk/browse?filter[…

@graemelyons I’ve not managed to amalgamate my lists into one place, but it’ll be good to get them onto the PSL website over the coming winter months. Time and lack of knowledge of some taxa groups maybe put me off.. time to expand my knowledge and get involved.

Experienced naturalists & entomologists who have NOT got involved with pans-species listing, could you tell me why it does not appeal? Given it's not really about listing - it's about becoming a better naturalist using listing - claiming we're a bunch of twitchers doesn't wash!

@Jo_the_botanist Yes, it’s lovely!

I really despair at the comments to this post. It seems that even the observed weather stats are now being disbelieved/trolled. Conspiracy theories taking over, maybe it’s better that some people just don’t look up!

@JeremyGaskell @BDSdragonflies Yes, a new site. It’s private with no access unfortunately, but certainly good to see them spreading away from the known (as you say- risky) sites

@Ben_Lewis_uk @BDSdragonflies A new site, Ben, or one of the two recognized sites? Apart from Epping Forest, I've had success at one Norfolk site (while risking my neck 'scoping from a busy causeway!)

I suspected breeding but was thrilled to actually find these fresh Downy Emeralds with exuviae at a Norfolk site today…. Breeding confirmed beyond doubt now! @BDSdragonflies

@Heather24623189 @BDSdragonflies Thanks Heather, I got lucky today and found one on saw sedge and another on a reed stem both on the waters edge👍

@Ben_Lewis_uk @BDSdragonflies Thanks Ben… Can only suggest closely combing a potential site , looking for likely spots where they can climb ( posts, boardwalks, saplings , reeds etc). Hope you have luck finding some !!

Downy Emerald Dragonflies freshly emerging today.. @BDSdragonflies

@Norwichbirder @BDSdragonflies Same here, they are usually crazily active so was great to finally see them perched.

I'm down to just a handful of spaces across all four dates for these walks now. Please share to help me fill the last few. 🙏