Mike Toms
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miketoms.bsky.social
Mike Toms
@miketoms.bsky.social
3.3K followers 460 following 33 posts
Science Comms and ornithology. New Naturalist author. Wildlife. Books. Alternative Music. (He/him).
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I always appreciate late Common Darters. One of the joys of October here in Norfolk.
That would be great thanks. Hope you’re well.
Reposted by Mike Toms
Dawn raids arresting peaceful protestors… 👀

There is a crime that arrests should be made for: Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

‼️UPDATE: Seven arrests have now been made
I’d pay good money (I say good money) to see @willrose.bsky.social in a Golden Grenades balaclava.
Would moving the table closer help? 😉
Clearwings are just the coolest moths. These two (the slightly dumpier Red-tipped and the slimmer Red-belted) were attracted to their respective pheromone lures in our rural Norfolk garden today.
If you’re going to spend the time watching it inflate and dry out, then my money would be on a Large Yellow Underwing 😉
You can’t beat a fresh Green Pug, a smart little moth. This one was new for the garden, flushed from a Dogwood hedge. There’s a canine joke lurking in here somewhere - one for @levparikian.bsky.social perhaps?
Four species of hawk-moth in the trap this morning, including an absolute beast of a Privet Hawk-moth. Such a joy to have them
visiting the garden.
Two good days of biological recording and citizen science. Training new nest recorders to monitor nests (this is a Blackcap) yesterday then moth trap and passive acoustic bat monitoring last night (Barbastelle among the species recorded). Checked nest boxes today - eggs mostly hatched.
Always nice to find and monitor a Dunnock nest. This one is being incubated and will be followed through to what I hope will be a successful outcome. At 1.42 m, this is quite high off the ground for the Dunnocks I find (probably because the other species I am looking for nest low down).
Rather a lot of it, it would seem.
A new insect for the garden. Incredible to think Box Bug was restricted to a small area in Surrey but now occurs as far north as Yorkshire and as far west as Devon. The range expansion was aided by a shift onto other foodplants; now most frequently found on hawthorn and buckthorn.
34 moths of 11 species last night, including this Cinnabar, which is the earliest I’ve seen. Also rather dashing V-pug and March Moth, not to mention two Black Sexton Beetles (one with mites, one without). Hebrew Character the most common moth in the MV trap here in mid-Norfolk.
Eighteen moths of six species in the trap this morning, including this beautiful Chocolate-top. Such a smart little moth.
Reposted by Mike Toms
Join us for a talk from author James Parry about The Reverend Bird: the Gilbert White of the Broads at 6pm on Wednesday 23 April at our BTO HQ. £5 per person, please book in advance. ➡️ bit.ly/RevBirdTalk
The stage is set. Nice to be out and talking about owls. Tonight it is a mix of science, conservation and cultural history. From the cutting marks on bones from 12,000 years BP, via South American human sacrifice, to Eagle Owls in the north of England and conservation challenges and opportunities.
That’s a lovely idea - duly ordered and very much looking forward to it. Thanks for sharing.
18 moths of seven species in the MV trap overnight, including two Twin-spot Quakers and this Oak Beauty. #ukmoths
Another brilliant introduction to bird identification by the very talented Will Rose. Accessible and fun - what’s not to like. #ornithology
After your tea, why not learn about what makes #woodpeckers so darned cool!
Watch my brand new animated bird guide episode here youtu.be/GEQBrT-587Q?...
Light in the darkness. A Tremellales fungus on a fallen branch. Such vivid colour in a drab winter landscape. Possibly Tremella mesenterica or Naematelia aurantia. #mycology