Mike Toms

Global Sumud Flotilla – urgent support.

#GlobalSumudFlotilla #GlobalMovementToGaza #SailToGaza

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

Protester arrested over ‘Plasticine Action’ T-shirt: ‘How ridiculous is this?’ Miles Pickering says crowd at protest over Palestine Action ban was laughing at ‘silliness’ of scene as he was detained

The most genius thing I have seen in a long while www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

I’d pay good money (I say good money) to see @willrose.bsky.social in a Golden Grenades balaclava.

The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ... Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal that the truth behind it is ve...

Ouch!

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Would moving the table closer help? 😉

Red-tipped Clearwing. Norfolk UK 28.06

Red-belted Clearwing. Norfolk UK. 28.06

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 😉

Green Pug (a type of moth)

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?

Pine Hawk-moth

Privet Hawk-moth

Elephant Hawk-moth

Poplar Hawk-moth

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.

Blackcap nest with four eggs. Photographed in Norfolk, England in May 2025

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.

A Dunnock nest in ivy, containing three bright blue eggs.

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.

Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus Norfolk UK April 2025

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.

Cinnabar moth from moth trap set in mid-norfolk April 2025, by Mike Toms

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.

Chocolate-tip moth.

Eighteen moths of six species in the trap this morning, including this beautiful Chocolate-top. Such a smart little moth.

Image of the Reverend Bird sitting on a bench writing in his notebook. Wording alongside reads: The Reverend Bird, the Gilbert White of the Broads. A talk by James Parry. Wednesday 23 April. Doors open 6pm, talk at 7pm. BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford. £5 per person. Find out more and book: https://bit.ly/RevBirdTalk

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

A stage set for a talk about the cultural history of owls.

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

A bright orange fungal body on some fallen dead branches. Belonging to the Tremellales.

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

Ivy-leaved Toadflax, in flower 6th January, on a wall in Norfolk

January Rain brings out the best in Ivy-leaved Toadflax -don’t you think? This one in flower on a Norfolk wall.

Really lovely to see you on here Nicola.

Glad you got the answer through a nice bit of detective work. Interestingly that’s a different cover from the two editions that I have. Hope you find the book interesting and useful.

Front cover of Into the Red book - red cover with black & white lapwings flying from right to left

Photo of double spread about the Corncrake - with painting of Corncrake hidden amongst nettles

Double spread - page about Winchat with painting of Winchat on branches of a pine tree

If you're enjoying my #alphabetbirds posts, you'd LOVE @btobirds.bsky.social books 'Red Sixty Seven' & 'Into the Red' 🪶

Raising funds to support conservation of threatened #birds. #Art & prose curated by @miketoms.bsky.social & Kit Jewitt 👇

www.bto.org/our-science/...

www.bto.org/our-science/...

Nice. Will look forward to seeing some lichens in due course. Thanks Rob

What did you go for Rob?

Image of three books Into the Red, Flight Lines and Red Sixty Seven, with the latter open on the page showing artwork of Black Redstart. Wording reads: £5 off BTO Books. Use code BTORBFL2024. Discount applies to Into the Red, Red Sixty Seven and Flight Lines. Offer is valid until: 31 December 2024. Order now at www.bto.org/shop.

Enjoy £5 off select BTO books with code BTORBFL2024 at our shop. ➡️ british-trust-for-ornithology.myshopify.com/discount/BTO... These books make the perfect Christmas gift for birders and nature enthusiasts! 🐦